Every Two Hours Assad is Responsible for a Child's Death in Syria

Media Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

September 08, 2013

The Syrian Coalition calls upon the international community, Friends of Syria, and all human rights organizations to take immediate steps towards the protection of Syrian children facing death and terror on a daily basis in Syria.

In March 2011, the children of Dara’a illustrated their dreams on the walls of their schools, sparking the revolution for freedom and dignity. Since 2011, Syrian children across Syria have been drawing, with their blood, images of their daily suffering, agony, and death.

The regime has used all types of weapons to suppress the Syrian people and to try and destroy their will for freedom. Nearly 10,913 children have been slaughtered by the Assad regime since March of 2011. 2,305 of them are under the age of ten, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. A human life is much more than just numbers, but the tragic equation here is that every two hours Assad's violence kills one child in Syria.

Assad's terrorizing of children does not stop at murder. Assad forces have recruited children into their different militias. They are also known to kidnap, detain and hold hostage the children of activists, until their parents are hunted down. Tragically, Assad soldiers also use children as human shields during their deployment of land operations in cities and villages across Syria.

We implore the world to act and protect theses innocent children who have a right, like all children in the world, to peace, safety and a happy childhood.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.