In a scene that no child should ever witness, classrooms in Syria became targets of destruction on a Wednesday that will haunt many. Reports indicate that at least 22 children and six teachers lost their lives in what UNICEF has classified as one of the most lethal assaults on educational institutions during the ongoing civil war.
The village of Hass in northern Syria endured a series of airstrikes that struck three schools, according to NPR. “This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime,” expressed UNICEF Director, Anthony Lake. “Families have lost children forever… educators have been taken from their students … it’s just one more wound in the ongoing saga of Syria’s future.”
As the dust settles from this horrific incident, the death toll may continue to rise. The full extent of injuries among survivors remains uncertain. Local activist Mark Kader, who lives near the affected schools, reported witnessing seven airstrikes and noted, “four teachers perished; the school custodian was also killed. First responders and nearby residents faced the wrath of successive strikes. But the majority of victims were children.”
This isn’t an isolated incident. In 2016, UNICEF verified at least 38 separate attacks on schools across both government-held and rebel-controlled territories. Prior to this latest tragedy, 32 children had already lost their lives at school this year. Last year alone saw 60 attacks on educational facilities, according to UNICEF’s records. Currently, one in three schools in Syria is rendered unusable due to bomb damage.
The world has watched in horror as the plight of children continues to unfold; from the image of a 3-year-old child being pulled from the water alongside his family while fleeing the conflict, to the haunting image of 5-year-old Omar Al-Hariri, who sat dazed after an airstrike in Aleppo. Even children far away feel the urgency for change. A young boy named Leo from Michigan wrote to the President seeking ways to assist refugees desperate for safety and a chance at life.
Attacking children is inexcusable. If these actions don’t qualify as war crimes, then what exactly does? When will the suffering of innocent civilians finally come to an end? The death toll has tragically surpassed 450,000, with approximately 50,000 children among the casualties.
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In summary, the ongoing conflict in Syria has led to heartbreaking losses, particularly among children. The attacks on schools are a stark reminder of the urgent need for peace and protection for the most vulnerable.