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UNICEF Appeals to Syria's Warring Parties to Protect Children from Carnage in
Idlib

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The [1]United Nations Children's Fund is
   appealing to the warring parties in Syria to protect hundreds of
   thousands of children at risk of death and displacement from the
   carnage in and around the northwest province of Idlib.

   New Year's Day is traditionally a day of hope, a day when people look
   forward to a brighter year ahead. On this New Year's Day, [2]UNICEF
   reports five children, aged between 6 and 13, were killed when their
   primary school in Idlib province was hit by rocket fire.

   UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado acknowledges Syria's warring parties
   are not likely to respond to her agency's appeal for the fighting to
   stop but she says they should.

   "Children in Syria, who have absolutely nothing to do with this
   conflict are bearing the brunt of this conflict," she said. "A whole
   generation of children have known nothing now but war. How can that be
   a good thing for anybody?"

   Some three million civilians who live in Idlib province have nowhere to
   go. They are trapped. All avenues of escape from the fighting are
   blocked.

   The United Nations reports more than 235,000 people have been displaced
   within the region. This, since Syrian forces and their Russian allies
   launched a military offensive to retake Idlib from al-Qaida-affiliated
   jihadists and rebel allies in mid-December. Children account for more
   than half of those forced to flee their homes. Many have already been
   displaced multiple times.

References

   1. https://www.unicef.org/
   2. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicefs-new-year-appeal-syria-cease-fighting-northwest-and-end-nine-year-war

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