Child Protection Council calls for holding Turkey accountable

The Child Protection Office made a statement in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) building in the city of Qamishlo regarding the killing of children in North and East Syria by the Turkish occupying state.

The statement was read in both Kurdish and Arabic by teacher Aliya Hassan and Sahar Mahmoud, a member of the Women's Office in the Culture Body of Jazera Canton.

The statement pointed to the Turkish occupying state's attacks, along with its mercenaries from the Syrian National Army, on North and East Syria using various types of weapons, endangering the safety of civilians. It said, "The Syrian National Army openly and systematically targets children and civilians, disregarding all international treaties. They attack children and civilians with warplanes and missiles."

The statement revealed the toll of civilian casualties caused by the Turkish occupying state and its mercenaries in North and East Syria and in the areas occupied by Turkey. It detailed: "Between December 2 of last year and January 28, 76 civilians lost their lives, and 17 children, 13 women, and 84 citizens were injured, including 11 children and 9 women. Between January 26 and 28, 17 civilians lost their lives, and 23 others were injured. Two children lost their lives, and their mother was seriously wounded in the village of Al-Jamas in Ain Issa. Additionally, three civilians, including a child, lost their lives, and nine others, including four women, were injured in the village of Um Harmal in Zirghan. In the city of Serrin, 12 civilians lost their lives, including five children, while four children and 13 other civilians were injured."

The statement emphasized that the Child Protection Council strongly condemns the attacks of the Turkish occupying state and its affiliated mercenaries. It stated, "The Turkish state and its mercenaries deliberately target civilians, children, medical teams, ambulances, and journalists, violating all international conventions and norms."

The statement called on the international community to break its silence, warning that such silence allows Turkey and its mercenaries to continue their attacks on civilians.

The statement concluded: "The Turkish state, which is committing massacres against civilians, especially children, must be prosecuted and held accountable in international courts for its crimes."

A-H

ANHA