The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported the deaths of two children in relation to the explosion of an IED on the road between the cities of Jassim and Inkhil on April 20. This is just one of the many atrocities carried out recently in Syria, and it symbolizes a situation of increasing and unending tension. Last week, as an example, there were several explosions reported in the areas of Masyaf, Quneitra, and in the Deir Ezzor countryside, more often than not leading to the deaths of civilians and children. The country is subject to violence of all kinds, from targeted assassinations to injuries caused by random acts of violence, such as recently when two men in the region of Tal Jumou were wounded at the hands of two unknown armed individuals.
According to the SOHR, over the past three years, there have been over 1,000 attacks and attempted assassinations through the use of IEDs, bombs and vehicle borne IEDs, killing hundreds of people, including dozens of children. Children are considered by many to be amongst the first victims of violence, warfare, death and displacement resulting from such events. They have in many cases lost their lives, homes and childhoods, as stated by Bo Viktor Nylund, representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Syria: according to one of his statements, since 2011, almost 12,000 children have been killed or injured as a result of the fighting in the country.
To make matters worse, according to data provided by the United Nations, children are particularly vulnerable in the face of problems such as hunger and chronic malnutrition. This is why Save the Children and UNICEF are calling upon the international community not only to improve the availability of food in the area, but also to increase the quantity of funds allocated towards providing appropriate care and assistance for kids. According to Mr. Nylund, in order to cope with the Syrian crisis, it is necessary to reintegrate children into local communities, and to repatriate those of foreign nationals to their countries of origin. Furthermore, the agency calls for 1.4 billion additional dollars to help address the situation within Syria and in neighbouring states.
To read more, please read:
Two children wounded by IED in rural Daraa - ANHA | HAWARNEWS | English
Children among dead following bomb attacks in northern Syria | | UN News
Author: Sara Taherzadeh – Editor: Maxime Grenier
