From 1 January to 2 September 2023, Turkey’s military operations in North and East Syria claimed the lives of at least 41 children and left 32 injured as reported by ANHA on Monday.
The regions of Afrin (Efrîn), Shahba (Šehba), Jazira (Cizîrê) and the Euphrates were particularly affected, with specific incidents including drone strikes, bombings, and beatings.
“Various forms of violence, including drone strikes and bombings, were responsible for these tragedies,” stated a spokesperson for a local human rights organisation, according to ANHA. The military operations persist despite international calls for a ceasefire.
“The loss of young lives is not just a statistic; it’s a tragedy,” added a representative from a child welfare organisation. “We’re talking about futures cut short.”
The report also noted four cases of sexual assault against children, nine detentions and eight kidnappings, including an infant. “This crisis extends beyond the loss of life,” highlighted a human rights spokesperson.
In the Afrin and Shahba regions, 15 children were killed and 16 were injured due to explosions. Six children lost their lives as a result of beatings. In the Jazira region, drone strikes and bombings resulted in 12 children killed and six injured. Manbij (Minbic), Raqqa (Reqa) and Deir ez-Zor (Derezor) also reported child casualties.
