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SYRIA-CONFLICT-UN-CHILDREN
Nearly 5 million children born into Syria war: UN
AMMAN, March 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – At least 4.8 million children were born
since Syria’s war began nine years ago while 9,000 others have been killed or
wounded in the conflict, the UN children’s agency said Sunday.
An additional one million children were born as refugees since the
conflict erupted on March 15, 2011, UNICEF said.
“The war in Syria marks yet another shameful milestone today,” said UNICEF
executive director Henrietta Fore, who was in Syria last week.
“As the conflict enters its 10th year, millions of children are entering
their second decade of life surrounded by war, violence, death and
displacement.”
Citing data from 2014 when official monitoring began, UNICEF said that
“more than 9,000 were killed or injured in the conflict”.
During the same time “close to 5,000 children — some as young as seven —
were recruited into the fighting (and) nearly 1,000 education and medical
facilities came under attack”.
The agency warned that the “true impact of this war on children is likely
to be more profound”.
Ted Chaiban, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North
Africa, said an ongoing offensive by government forces on the last rebel
stronghold in northwestern Syria was having “severe consequences on
children”.
Fighting there since December 1 has displaced more than 960,000 people,
including over 575,000 children, according to UNICEF.
And as a result of the wider impact of the conflict “more than 2.8 million
children are out of school inside Syria and in neighbouring countries,” the
agency said.
Two in five schools cannot be used because they are destroyed, damaged,
sheltering displaced families or being used for military purposes, said
UNICEF.
Addressing warring parties, Fore said: “Our message is clear: Stop hitting
schools and hospitals.
“Stop killing and maiming children. Grant us the crossline and cross-
border access we need to reach those in need. Far too many children have
suffered for far too long.”
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1616 hrs