According to Save the Children, tens of thousands of children are sitting targets as a result of heavy shelling in East Aleppo which is the last part of the city held by the opposition. As the Syrian army continues to make advances, these children simply have nowhere to hide. There are thousands of people who have been crammed into a small area which means they are at grave risk from artillery and airstrikes causing the number of casualties to climb quickly. The situation is compounded by the fact that medical aid, supplies and food are scarce.
Children killed in makeshift school
Outside the city, fighting and bombing continues unabated. Recently three children died when a bomb exploded at their teacher’s home which was serving as an improvised school because the bombing had required the regular school to shut its doors. Save the Children said it is extremely concerned about the three quarters of a million people that are effectively living under siege in Syria. The charity says it is unconscionable that the UN Security Council would not come to an agreement on a cease fire. Save the Children is calling for urgent action without which many more children could be killed as a result of fighting or starvation.
Negotiate a cease fire
Save the Children says it wants all parties that have influence over the various groups participating in the civil war to start negotiating for an in internationally monitored ceasefire that would last for at least 72 hours. This would provide a window of opportunity for aid to reach the people who are stranded in the Eastern part of Aleppo. It would also give people the chance to leave as well. The charity wants safe routes from Aleppo to be established so that people can flee the city in relative safety.
Create airbridges
If safe routes cannot be established Save the Children says “air bridges” should be created which would allow aid to be dropped off at landing strips and airports. The situation in Syria continues to remain severe after nearly six years of conflict and suffering. The international community should not stand by as civilians are bombed without consequence.
