At least six children killed in northwest Syria overnight

From Bertrand Bainvel, Acting UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa

03 February 2022
UNICEF Black Banner
UNICEF

AMMAN, 3 February 2022 – “UNICEF confirms that at least six children were killed and one girl was badly injured overnight in the border town of Atmeh in the northwest of Syria due to heavy violence.

“According to reports, civilian-populated areas were severely damaged.

“Since the year began, violence has heavily escalated in and around Idlib in Syria’s northwest, home to 1.2 million children in need of assistance. Many families in the area are internally displaced, having fled violence in other parts of Syria over the years.

“Last year, nearly 70 per cent of grave violations recorded against children in Syria occurred in the northwest.

“This recent increase in violence comes amid freezing weather conditions and record sub-zero temperatures in Syria and the region. At least five Syrian children died in the north of Syria due to harsh winter conditions in the past two weeks alone”.

Media contacts

Juliette Touma
Regional Chief of Advocacy and Communications
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office
Tel: 00962798674628
Salim Oweis
Communication Officer
UNICEF MENA
Tel: 00962799365212

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/mena

Follow UNICEF on  Twitter   Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   Youtube   TikTok

 

Join our UNICEF MENA WhatsApp group to get the latest news. Send us a text message at the following number and we'll add you to our list: 00962790082531