Since November 27, more than a quarter of a million children in Syria have been forced to flee their homes due to the escalating conflict. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights begins visit to Syria and Lebanon Peace and Security
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk arrived in Damascus on Tuesday. He will also visit Lebanon as part of his official visit. This is the UN human rights chief’s first visit to Syria and his second to Lebanon.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ previous visit to Lebanon was in 2002.
During his visit from January 14 to 16, Türk plans to meet with representatives of the government, civil society, the diplomatic community and UN agencies.
Dangerous Landscape
Meanwhile, at a press briefing in Geneva, UNICEF representative Ricardo Pires emphasized that children in Syria face serious threats despite the end of large-scale hostilities.
In December last year alone, UNICEF received reports of 116 children killed or injured by explosive remnants of war. That’s almost four cases a day. The real figure is likely higher, given the volatile situation.
At least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance have been reported in 14 provinces of Syria over the past nine years. Children make up a significant portion of the victims, Pires noted.
“The dangers are only increasing with renewed displacement. Since November 27, more than a quarter of a million children have been forced to flee their homes due to the escalating conflict,” the UNICEF representative said. According to him, there are some 324,000 unexploded ordnances across the country. These explosive devices remain the leading cause of death for children in Syria.
Abdul’s Story
About 5 million children live in areas contaminated by ordnance. Pires told the story of 12-year-old Abdul from Hama, whose life changed forever on December 18. While playing football with friends, he stepped on an object that turned out to be an explosive device. The blast killed his 15-year-old cousin Mohamed, and left Abdul and his younger brother with severe injuries that left them unable to walk without assistance.
Abdul’s mother, barely holding back tears, told of another tragedy in their neighborhood: three children died after bringing home a grenade found on a playground. “Such stories happen too often,” Pires said.
The Path to Change
UNICEF’s representative called for urgent international investment in demining to clear Syria of unexploded ordnance. He also noted the importance of teaching children safety rules and providing comprehensive support to victims, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support.