UNICEF Urges Protection of Children in Conflict Areas
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations Children's Fund called on countries in conflict to take immediate action to protect children from grave human rights violations and threats to life.
UNICEF said in a report just released that more than 170,000 cases of armed attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions and sexual violence involving children have been verified since 2010, NHK reported.
The report said attacks on children have not let up throughout 2019. It says in January at least 32 children died in the northern and eastern parts of war-torn Syria from violence, displacement and harsh winter conditions.
It said an attack by an armed group on a village in the western African country of Mali killed 85 children in March.
It also said an average of nine children were killed or maimed in Afghanistan every day in the first nine months of this year.
UNICEF said 2019 concludes a "deadly decade" for children in conflict.
It called on all warring parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to immediately end violations against children and the targeting of schools and hospitals.