Four Children a Day Killed or Injured by Leftover Explosives in Syria
By UN News
14 January 2025
Damascus – At least four children are killed or injured every day in Syria as a result of leftover explosive remnants of war (ERW), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.
Since the beginning of the year, at least 55 children have been killed and 78 injured, the UN agency said, adding that these incidents account for more than half of all child casualties in Syria.
“These remnants of war continue to haunt the lives of children and families long after the fighting has ended,” said UNICEF Syria Representative Bo Viktor Nylund. “They are a constant threat, lurking in homes, schools, and playgrounds, waiting to claim more innocent lives.”
According to UNICEF, 12 of the 13 governorates in Syria are contaminated with explosive remnants. The problem is particularly acute in former conflict areas, where children are more likely to come into contact with these dangerous items.
UNICEF is working with partners to clear ERW from contaminated areas and to educate communities about the risks. However, the agency said that more needs to be done to address the problem.
“We need to scale up our efforts to clear ERW and to educate communities about the risks,” said Nylund. “We also need to provide support to the victims of these incidents and to help them rebuild their lives.”
The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions on the protection of children in armed conflict, including Resolution 1612 (2005), which condemns the use of child soldiers and calls for an end to the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
However, the resolution does not specifically address the issue of ERW, which continues to pose a serious threat to children in Syria and other conflict-affected countries.
UNICEF is calling on all parties to the conflict in Syria to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions on the protection of children and to take all necessary measures to protect children from harm.
Syria emergency: Four children a day killed or injured by leftover explosives
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