310 children killed in 2022 | Syrian children: uncertain future and blatant violations

For over 11 years of the absurd war in Syria, children have been struggling with hunger, thirst, diseases and violence. Most of the Syrian children have lost their beloved, suffered from continuous panic because of the violent battles and bombardment and been deprived from education.

 

 

Agreements and accords on hold

 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child issued by the United Nations stipulates that “governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.” However, the United Nations issued a report in July 2022, compiling nearly 24,000 verified violations committed against children in different countries over the world, with Syria topping the list. Commenting on the situation of children, Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict, says “there are not words strong enough can describe the horrific conditions which children suffer from in light of armed conflicts.” Of course, this quotation indicates the tragedy of Syrian children under endless violations and extreme violence.

 

 

310 children killed in acts of violence

 

Since early 2022, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented the death of 310 children: they are distributed as follows:

 

• 68 children were killed in indiscriminate gunfire, infightings and murder crimes.

 

• 14 children were killed by opposition factions.

 

• 21 children were killed in unknown circumstances.

 

• 27 children were killed in gunfire and bombardment by regime forces.

 

• One child was killed by the International Coalition.

 

• 22 children died of poor health conditions.

 

• Nine children were killed in Russian airstrikes.

 

• Two children were killed in explosions of booby-trapped cars and motorcycles.

 

• 104 children were killed by explosions of old ordnance.

 

• One child was killed by ISIS.

 

• 13 children were killed in Turkish attacks.

 

• Three children were shot dead by Turkish Jandarma.

 

• One child was killed by explosions of landmines and IEDs.

 

• 11 children were shot dead by unknown gunmen.

 

• 13 children were killed by SDF.

 

SOHR documented the arbitrary arrest of five children in 2022: three in regime-controlled areas and two in areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions.

 

Also, SOHR documented the kidnapping of 42 other children: five in regime-controlled areas, three in areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions and 34 in SDF-controlled areas.

 

 

Fight for survival

 

Since the onset of the Syrian Revolution in 2011, Syrian children have been thrown to death on frontlines and fell victims to protracted conflict, while survivals have been “rewarded” with extreme poverty, hunger and illiteracy. However, they have remained firm, clinging to their hope to enjoy a better future. Sadly, there are no signs that a better future will be reached, or the children’s situation will be improved in a country with a poverty rate exceeding 90%, according to UN statistics. Recently, Syrian children have been struggling with disastrous situations, where many left with their families to refugee camps, while others became homeless, after their homes had been destroyed.

 

On the other hand, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed that 5,300,000 Syrian children are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, while figures are on the rise, especially with the policy of inaction and indifference adopted by the Syrian regime and opposition factions in areas which they dominate. Authorities in these areas provide no support to children, who have been affected the most by the war and its scourges, and disregard their sufferings and tragic situation. Even humanitarian aid provided by some international and regional and local organisations is seized by the “Shabiha” (regime loyalists who abuse power and conduct illegal actions for the benefit of the regime) and “mafias.” Those children have proved that they are fighting desperately for survival and driving their country to a better future.

 

 

Robbed of right to attain education

 

With many having failed to attain education and dropped out of schools because of the war, Syrian children have been turned into “ticking bomb,” after having been lured and brainwashed by military groups and gangs which exploited their ignorance and need of money.

 

UNICEF has confirmed that over 2,700,000 Syrian children have failed to attain education inside and outside Syria since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution.

 

Moreover, child labour in Syria has exacerbated the situation further and violated all international laws and conventions signed by Damascus, but warlords have been all along disregarding those laws and conventions which criminalises child labour under any circumstances.

 

 

Exploitation

 

SOHR has been all along warning against the worrying phenomenon of child labour, especially in illegal workshops where they receive inhumane treatment and are forced to do hard work for over 12 hours every day for low wages. All SOHR reports show that children have been forced to work in workshops, markets and streets, at a time when they have been supposed to continue their education at schools and enjoy a peaceful life. Meanwhile, employers exploit the children’s need of money, especially since many have lost their breadwinners.

 

Many international organisations have warned against exploitation of children by forcing them to do hard and illegal work for long hours. Child labour is considered the most serious cause affecting Syrian families who force their children to work to secure basic livelihood.

 

SOHR has published scores of reports highlighting the phenomenon of child labour and interviewed children working in collecting garbage, cleaning cars at traffic lights and picking vegetables, where they told of their tragic stories and abuse they have endured, especially girls.

 

 

Girls fall victims to human trafficking

 

Minor girls have not been excluded from financial exploitation, where they have been also forced to work for long hours for lower wages from adults. Furthermore, many girls have been forced to drop out of schools to help their families to secure their essentials or be married at young ages, as their families do not want to shoulder their burdens anymore.

 

On the other hand, sexual exploitation of minor girls has exacerbated the situation further with many girls having been forced into prostitution.

 

Although human rights and feminist organisations are working on countering aggressive practices against little girls, their efforts have failed so far to curb the blatant violations and crimes committed by those who rely on the “law of jungle” which prevails throughout Syria.

 

 

Refugee children struggle with dire living conditions

 

Little Syrian refugees in all countries around the world, especially in refugee camps in Lebanon, are struggling with dreadful living conditions, as they are subjected to reprehensible practices and heinous crimes which are manifested mainly in forcing them to do hard work for low wags and forcing minor girls to marry elderly men to serve them.

 

Children, who have fled from the war in their country, are struggling with inhumane conditions and hope that a solution will be reached one day and lead to stability and security, so that they can return to their homeland.

 

According to the latest report issued by UNICEF, 90% of Syrian children are in need for support in light of the alarming increasing rate of child labour.

 

The Syrian Observatory would like to point out that Syrian children are subjected to extreme violence, exploited and recruited by extremist organisations and rebel faction. In addition, children have fallen victim to tobacco and illicit drug business run by Iranian-backed militias and “shabiha” with many children having become addicts.

 

For over a decade after the first spark of the Syrian Revolution and peaceful protests, which were rapidly turned into a violent armed conflict dividing and destroying Syria and enabling many foreign powers to interfere and occupy Syrian territory, suffering of Syrian children is getting complicated further, especially since over 90% of Syrians are living below the poverty line, according to UN statistics.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), renew our appeals to defend children rights and keep them away from military actions and political conflicts and emphasise that the future of Syria depends mainly on children, stressing that the current situation of children will impact the situation in Syria in the future.

 

We call upon all conflicting powers to wisely address the crisis and turn to dialogue, so that Syria will avoid more humanitarian tragedies and destruction.

 

We also renew our calls upon the international community not to abandon their responsibility and obligations to finding a lasting solution to the tragedy of millions of Syrians as soon as possible.