UNICEF: 1722 Iraqi children killed during the 4 years due to ISIS
A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that 1,722 Iraqi children were killed during the four years because of the occupation of ISIS in several western and northern Iraqis cities.
A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that 1,722 Iraqi children were killed during the four years because of the occupation of ISIS in several western and northern Iraqis cities.
The report stated, “Although the so-called caliphate has ended, the security situation remains fragile and the children of Iraq continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Hundreds of boys and girls were being held because of their actual or alleged affiliation with ISIS and 778 children of them were detained until June 2019; Schools have also been affected and access to education has been affected; access to humanitarian assistance remains a challenge, and the contamination of Iraqi territory by explosive remnants of explosive devices and IEDs remains a major concern.
It added, “About 1722 children were killed or maimed during the reporting period, mainly due to gunfire, air strikes, artillery strikes, mortars and rockets, as well as explosive remnants of war in areas vacated by ISIS; actual numbers are likely to be higher due to access and security restrictions.” .
It continued, “At least one million children were internally displaced.”
The report indicated that seeking to hold perpetrators of these acts, including war crimes or crimes against humanity, to account and will be crucial to recovering ISIS victims, including children, and the Special Representative called on the Iraqi government to accelerate its work to prevent grave violations against children, including criminalizing the recruitment and use of children through the adoption of a comprehensive child rights law, and also called for the immediate return of all foreign children and the development of specialized child protection programs to ensure their full reintegration into society.
