Statement from Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa
AMMAN, 5 November 2020- “While the world watches global events and is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, violence in Syria continues and children bear the brunt.
“In the last week, at least five children were reported killed in northwest Syria including four in the past two days alone. One girl, Rimas, four years old, was killed while on her way to school. Meanwhile, two aid workers- partners of UNICEF- were killed while heading to a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space where children play and get some respite. We also received reports that one school has come under attack.
“Until March this year, the northwest of Syria was one of the most dangerous places to be a child in. Riddled with extreme violence, children paid most: 273 children were killed, while 236 got injured. This is the highest number in a single quarter since the war began. The northwest of Syria is home to at least 1.2 million children in need, many of them were displaced multiple times, fleeing violence in other parts of Syria.
“UNICEF welcomed the lull in violence in the area- at the time- in line with the United Nations Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire earlier this year. We cannot return to the cycle of violence Syria witnessed earlier. A resumption of violence will only breed more violence. UNICEF urges parties to the conflict in Syria and those with influence over them to abide by the ceasefire and refrain from renewing violence.
“It has been nearly 10 years into one of the most horrific wars in recent history with immense suffering for civilians among them millions of children. It is long overdue that guns fall silent for the sake of every child in Syria. There is no military solution for the war in Syria. The way to end the war is through diplomatic and political channels.”