Children used as human shields in Syria

Children used as human shields in Syria - shocking and deeply worrying UN reports

MEDIA RELEASE 14 JUNE 2012

“United Nations' reports of children being used as human shields and being forced to work on the front lines are shocking and deeply worrying. The perpetrators of these crimes must be held to account. This is contrary to International law, and we call on all sides to ensure that children are protected and kept safe from danger. All parties must now allow unhindered humanitarian access to help young people and their families,” says Liz Gibbs, Save the Children New Zealand.

We know that children are terrified by the fighting and the journeys they make to leave Syria. So Save the Children is on the borders of Syria in Lebanon and Jordan. We are helping refugees who have fled the conflict, especially children who have been through extremely distressing experiences. We are educating them about the risk from land mines in border areas as well as running safe spaces for children to play.

Save the Children New Zealand has given approximately $60,000 to help Syrian children caught up in the country’s crisis.

Over the next six months Save the Children will help hundreds of the most vulnerable children come to terms with what they have witnessed. Specially trained social workers are visiting vulnerable families, distributing urgently needed food for pregnant and new mothers, as well as medicines and clothing for children and babies. The organisation is also working to raise awareness amongst children of the dangers of unexploded mines along the borders.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Spokespeople available for comment in Lebanon
To arrange interviews with Save the Children colleagues in Lebanon contact:
• Sanna Johnson, Save the Children’s Middle East director: sjohnson@mena.savethechildren.se Tel: 00961-3 -957 109
• Ruba Khoury, Save the Children Lebanon Country Director: rkhoury@mena.savethechildren.se
Photos / case studies multimedia available on request
Includes: Seven-year-old, Ahmed, has been out of school for almost three months now, as his family came to Jordan fleeing the violence in their Syrian hometown of Homs
Save the Children’s response
Lebanon: Save the Children member countries are together appealing for US$ 4.3 million Through the Save the Children Humanitarian Response to Syrian Children in North and East Lebanon. Save the Children intends to reach through different activities:
• 23,744 children
• 16,450 adults.

For six months until 15 September 2012 Save the Children intends to provide immediate relief to children and adults from the following geographical areas:
• North Lebanon: Akkar area and Tripoli
• East Lebanon: Bekaa area (targeted communities: Baalbeck, Arsal, Qaa, Fakha, Brital, Kamed el Lawz and Ayn).

Jordan: Syrians continue to cross the border both legally and illegally in to Jordan. Save the Children continues to provide activities to provide humanitarian services to the affected Syrian population as well as the local communities in Mafraq.

Read more about the response here: http://www.savethechildren.org.nz/

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