Syria becoming living hell for children: UNICEF official

Speaking via a phone conference from New York on Friday, the UN's Children Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Peter Salama announced that "especially for children, Syria is becoming a living hell."

As the conflict, which has sparked an influx of refugees into neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan but also Europe, enters its fifth year, Salama warned that "the future of Syria's children is being taken away from them."

"Large numbers are being killed and maimed, while boys as young as 8 are being forcibly recruited," he reported, adding that numerous accounts of abductions, sexual slavery and forced marriages are being observed.

Many are also having to live under siege conditions, with water facilities often deliberately targeted as are education and health infrastructures and personnel.

According to Salama, some 2 million Syrian children are unable to reach their schools, while around 20 percent of Syria's remaining schoolchildren have to cross an active front line to attend classes.

The UN's Children Fund also revealed that 50,000 teachers had left their posts entirely.

In light of this worsening context, Salama deemed it unsurprising that more and more people and families are attempting to flee the war-torn country, many with hopes of reaching Europe.

"As Syria moves from being a failing state to being a failed state, we need to ensure that all along the journey children are protected from exploitation and abuse," Salama iterated, while calling all parties to the conflict to respect humanitarian law and to give unimpeded access to aid personnel and programs aiming to assist the population. Endit