DAMASCUS, 12 October 2016 - “UNICEF deplores yesterday’s attack on the “That al-Netaqeen” primary school in the city of Daraa which killed five school children, aged between four and 16, and left 15 other children injured. The conflict in Syria has plummeted to such lows that children are now risking their lives just to attend school.

“The school yard was hit at the end of an outdoor sports session.

“This attack comes just a few weeks after the start of the school year and amid escalating violence across the country. On top of their daily misery, even the right to learn and play is taken away from children in Syria.

“Death and injury of children in Syria has become a daily reality. The killing must stop.

“UNICEF reiterates its calls to all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect children and schools.”

For more information:

Shushan Mebrahtu, UNICEF Syria, +963 992 892 864, shmebrahtu@unicef.org

Juliette Touma, UNICEF Regional Office, +962 79 867 4628, jtouma@unicef.org