DAMASCUS, 15 March 2022 – Only yesterday three children were reportedly killed by unexploded ordnance in Aleppo city. Eleven years since the crisis began in Syria, violence, displacement, and lack of access to essential services continue to obstruct children’s lives. Last year, nearly 900 children in Syria lost their lives or were injured. This brings the total number of children killed and injured, since the beginning of the crisis, to a close to 13,000. Landmines, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance were the leading cause of these child casualties in 2021, accounting for nearly one third of all recorded injuries and deaths, leaving many children with lifelong disabilities. 

"Nearly 5 million children have been born in Syria since 2011. They have known nothing but war and conflict. In many parts of Syria, they continue to live in fear of violence, landmines, and explosive remnants of war," said UNICEF Syria Representative, Bo Viktor Nylund.

The crisis continues to leave Syrian children with psychological scars. Last year, one third of children in Syria showed signs of psychological distress including anxiety, sadness, fatigue, or frequent trouble sleeping.