UNICEF welcomes release of 70 Kurdish children after 120 days in captivity

“The physical and psychological well-being of these children is currently being assessed. We remain deeply concerned about the safety of children and teachers who are still in captivity,” said Hanaa Singer, UNICEF’s representative in Syria in a statement on Friday.

The children were kidnapped on 29 May and held in captivity for 120 days.

Singer reiterated that the abduction, recruitment and use of children in hostilities are grave child rights violations.

“In this time of conflict, it is the obligation of all parties to ensure that Syrian children be kept out of harm’s way and granted unhindered and safe access to education,” she added.

Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson briefing reporters at Headquarters on Friday noted that since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2165 in July, the world body and its partners have sent 20 convoys of humanitarian aid through the border crossings with Turkey and Jordan at Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam and Al Ramtha.

These convoys have brought in food for 160,000 people, basic household items for almost 210,000 people, health and medical supplies for almost 470,000 people and supplies for clean water and sanitation for almost 67,000 people.

He said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos has welcomed the positive development that the humanitarian community can use these border crossings to reach communities in desperate need. But she added that the question is how consistently aid agencies can reach people, while security and funding remains limited.

Children in the Khazar IDP camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Photo: UNAMI