In the past four months, at least 22 people were reportedly killed, including seven children, and 29 injured, including three children, in similar landmine and UO explosions across Syria.
Beat Rohr, Acting Director for Save the Children’s Syria Response Office, said:
“Landmines are seeds of death sown by adults that have their most deadly impact on children. Explosive weapons are the leading cause of casualties to children in conflict. Children suffer unique patterns of injury and are far more likely to die from blast wounds than adult conflict casualties.
“The impact of explosive weapons on children is devastating and lifelong, robbing families of their hopes and their ability to access vital services, and often profoundly altering the direction of a child’s life.
“Nearly 12 years after it started, the conflict in Syria continues to claim children’s lives and tear families apart.”
Save the Children calls on all actors to curb the use of the weapons most harmful to children and scale up efforts to reduce their impacts. It is also calling on donors to immediately increase support for mine-clearance actors as well as to awareness-raising efforts mitigating their risk on children and their families.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Holly Robertson on 0414 546 656 or media.team@savethechildren.org.au.