Return childhood to Syrian children

A UAE newspaper has said that the suffering of children in Syria hit rock bottom in 2016 and it is extremely distressing that no concrete action has yet been initiated by the world community to address this tear-jerking issue.

In an editorial on Tuesday, The Gulf Today said, "Children hold a special place in society. They deserve all protection and care. Instead, innocent kids in Syria were forced to endure the highest number of grave violations last year.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, at least 652 children were killed in 2016, a 20 percent increase compared to 2015, 255 among them were killed in or near a school.

The paper continued, "Maiming and recruitment of children also rose sharply as violence across the country saw a drastic escalation. Aid workers say that millions of kids in Syria come under attack on a daily basis, their lives turned upside down. Each and every child is scarred for life with horrific consequences on their health, well-being and future.

"The most vulnerable among Syria’s children are the 2.8 million in hard-to-reach areas, including 280,000 children living under siege, almost completely cut off from humanitarian aid.

"The misery continues in other ways too. Beyond the bombs, bullets and explosions, children also die in silence, often from diseases that can otherwise be easily prevented. Access to medical care, lifesaving supplies and other basic services remains difficult.

"Sadly, to cope with increasingly difficult living conditions, families inside Syria and in host nations have been forced to push their children into early marriages or child labour just to survive. After six years of war, nearly six million children now depend on humanitarian assistance, a 12-fold increase from 2012.

"A report by the international charity Save the Children recently noted that Syrian youngsters are showing signs of "toxic stress" that could lead to lifelong health problems, struggles with addiction and mental disorders lasting into adulthood.

"It is a heart-rending situation. Normally children should be studying in schools, laughing and playing on the street corners. Instead what one is witnessing in Syria is children separated from families, bleeding in hospitals or succumbing to wounds inflicted by heartless humans.

"Status quo is just not acceptable. Ignoring the plight of such a large number of children would come at a very high cost. It is about an entire next generation. All parties to the conflict should realise that allowing children to be wounded or killed will forever remain a blot on human conscience."