15/01/2025

UNICEF: More thank 100 children killed or injured in Syria in one month due to unexploded ordnance in Syria

DARAMSUQ — Ricardo Perez, Communications Director at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has raised urgent concerns about the ongoing danger unexploded ordnance poses to children in Syria. In December 2024 alone, at least 116 children were killed or injured by these munitions, highlighting the alarming scale of the crisis.

“Children across Syria are facing this latent, often invisible, and extremely deadly threat,” Perez stated during a press conference at the United Nations office in Geneva.

Perez emphasized that renewed displacement has further exacerbated the risks. Over 250,000 children have been forced to flee their homes amid escalating conflict, particularly following the opposition’s recent seizure of several major cities.

The devastating impact of the conflict has left an estimated 324,000 unexploded ordnance scattered throughout Syria. These remnants of war have become the leading cause of injuries among children, with approximately 5 million children living in high-risk areas.

UNICEF has called for immediate action to address the crisis, including efforts to clear unexploded ordnance, provide risk education, and ensure the safety and well-being of Syria’s most vulnerable population.