Press Release

UNICEF Condemns Attacks against Civilians and Calls for Children to be Protected in Syria

UNICEF is appalled by the reported deaths of at least 70 children as a result of missile strikes that hit residential areas of Aleppo on February 18 and 22. Civilians were killed in four separate missile attacks that hit the Jabal Badro, Tareeq Al-Bab and Ard Al-Hamra neighborhoods, in addition to a fourth in Tel Rifa’t on the outskirts of Aleppo. These latest attacks demonstrate the terrible impact of the conflict on civilians and on children in particular.

NEW YORK (February 26, 2013) – UNICEF is appalled by the reported deaths of at least 70 children as a result of missile strikes that hit residential areas of Aleppo on February 18 and 22.

Civilians were killed in four separate missile attacks that hit the Jabal Badro, Tareeq Al-Bab and Ard Al-Hamra neighborhoods, in addition to a fourth in Tel Rifa’t on the outskirts of Aleppo.

Meanwhile, on February 21, a large bomb attack in the Damascus suburb of Mazra’ reportedly killed 60 people, including at least 20 children attending class at the Abdullah Ibn Zubair elementary school.

These latest attacks demonstrate the terrible impact of the conflict on civilians and on children in particular. They underline the urgency of bringing an end to a crisis which is now nearly two years old and is steadily tearing apart the fabric of society.

UNICEF condemns these attacks in the strongest terms, and once again calls on all parties to ensure that civilians—and children especially—are protected, at all times, from the conflict.

UNICEF is appealing for $68 million to provide urgent humanitarian assistance in Syria for water and sanitation, health and nutrition, education, and psychosocial support. So far, less than 20 percent of that amount has been received.

How to help

For more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution to UNICEF’s relief efforts, please contact the U.S. Fund for UNICEF:

Website: www.unicefusa.org/syria
Toll free: 1-800-FOR-KIDS
Mail: 125 Maiden Lane, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10038

As with any emergency, in the event that donations exceed anticipated needs, the U.S. Fund will redirect any excess funds to children in greatest need.

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when ZERO children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For additional information, please contact:
Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org
Kiní Schoop, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2634, kschoop@unicefusa.org