UN Official: Syrians Keen to fight Terrorists Policy of Ignorance

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ UN Under-Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Affairs  Leila Zerrougui  stressed that outstanding results achieved in various examinations in the  education sector  in Syria during the school year, “reveal  keenness of the Syrians to support their country with learning and knowledge and fight the policy of  ignorance and neglect pursued by armed groups.”

Zerrougui noted during a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Education Dr. Hezwan al-Waz  actions and steps taken by the Ministry of Education to ensure the regularity of the educational process.

Zerrougui called for further efforts to protect children and prevent them from the impact of crises , being the  only guarantee for future.

For his part, Minister noted the pioneering project, aimed at teaching school dropouts living in temporary accommodation centers .

On the other hand, head of the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs  Dr. Insaf Hamad discussed with Zerrougui topics related to the protection of Syrian children, especially under  the current crisis.

Hamad gave a detailed and documented presentation on  abuses committed by armed terrorist groups against children in Syria, both in terms of recruitment or killing and maiming, rape and the destruction of hospitals, schools or the use of schools training camps and  preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid to civilians , which in all  are six items contained in UN Security Council resolution 1612 on  the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

For his Part,  Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Osama Sumaq discussed  with Zerrougui yesterday mechanisms of cooperation between the two sides to deliver medical aid to the needy and to provide the necessary health services for children.

Sumaq said that more than 1,500 health centers  are widespread in the Syrian  provinces and 29 medical clinic mobile addition to mobile  medical teams that provide maternity and child care to those in need for free. 

He indicated  difficulties workers in the health sector face  as a result of being targeted by armed terrorist groups, noting death of dozens of workers in the health sector and 104 wounded, while 21 of them still kidnapped  , with  nearly 652 health that  were offering primary health care services, destroyed by terrorists.

Zerrougui pointed  the need to protect and neutralized  hospitals to ensure the provision of health services for all citizens, especially children as the most affected category in war situations as a  result of their  exposure to moral and physical violation and deprivation of education and medical treatment, noting  the importance of activating cooperation between the various authorities to facilitate the delivery of medical and relief  aid to all areas in need.

T. Fateh