New York, 19 October – UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Leila Zerrougui, expresses serious concern over the killing and maiming of children in Syria, particularly by Syrian Government forces.

In the last few days, Syrian Government jets intensified airstrikes on residential areas, particularly in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. In one such attack on Maaret al-Numan village, two residential buildings and a mosque, where women and children were taking refuge, were destroyed, reportedly killing more than 20 children.

“Too many children have been killed already. I call upon all parties to the conflict in Syria to refrain from acts against the civilian population, including children, and to respect today’s call of the Secretary-General and the Arab League for a ceasefire, if not for the sake of Syrian children,” SRSG Zerrougui said.

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For more information, please contact:

Rosalie Azar
Program Officer
Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
+19173678299
azarr@un.org

Laurent Dutordoir
Associate Political Affairs Officer
Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
+19173673563
dutordoir@un.org