AMMAN, 12 March 2012 – UNICEF today denounced the reported killing of children and women whose bodies were found in the Syrian city of Homs on Sunday.
According to Syrian and international media reports, young children were among the victims discovered in the Homs neighbourhood of Karm el-Zeytoun. Some of the bodies had their throats slit. Others bore marks of torture.
“It’s hard to come to terms with savagery on this scale especially when it involves children paying the highest price for events over which they have no control,” said UNICEF Regional Director Maria Calivis. “We urgently call on all sides in this crisis to live up to their responsibility to safeguard children.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
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For further information, please contact:
Peter Smerdon, UNICEF New York
Tel: +1 212 303 7984 e-mail:
psmerdon@unicef.org
Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Geneva
Tel: +41 22 909 5716
mmercado@unicef.org
