UN's first report on suffering children in Syria’s civil war

Feb.05,2014: The first UN report on children in Syria’s civil war paints picture of ‘unspeakable’ horrors. It says that Syrian children have been subjected to “unspeakable” suffering in the nearly three years of civil war, with the Government and allied militia responsible for countless killings, maiming and torture. The report also condemns the opposition for recruiting youngsters for combat and using terror tactics in civilian areas. “Violations must come to an end now,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in the report, which was released Tuesday to the Security Council. Ban urged all parties to the conflict to take, without delay, all measures to protect and uphold the rights of all children in Syria.”
The report, covering the period from 1 March 2011 to 15 November 2013, lists numerous horrors that Syria’s children have suffered since the opposition first sought to oust President Bashar al-Assad. They range from sexual violence, to a more general violation of their rights from school closures and denial of access to humanitarian aid.
The report also spotlights the disappearance of many children. It notes that all parties to the conflict have seriously hampered the delivery of humanitarian assistance in areas most affected by the fighting, and warns that children have experienced a high level of distress as a result of witnessing the killing and injuring of members of their families and peers, or of being separated from their family or being displaced.
Source: UN