UNICEF Acting Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Abdul Fofana, said children across Iran and neighbouring countries continue to bear the worst impact of the ongoing war.
Fofana said children keep dying or suffering life-changing injuries in places where they should feel safest, including their homes, schools and communities.
Yesterday, a strike reportedly hit a residential building on Qeshm Island, off Iran’s southern coast. The attack reportedly killed a two-year-old child and the child’s parents. Two other children also reportedly suffered injuries.
Fofana described the latest attack as another painful reminder of the heavy toll the conflict has taken on children across the region.
He said reports from the past five months show that more than 4,000 children have been killed or injured across six countries.
Of that figure, more than 2,500 children were reportedly affected in Iran. The reports include 386 children killed and 2,117 injured.
Fofana warned that parties to the conflict must not treat children’s suffering as normal. He stressed that children did not start the conflict and have no power to stop it.
UNICEF called on all parties to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The agency also urged them to fully respect and implement ceasefires, end the violence immediately, and protect children at all times, wherever they are.
External Links
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa
UNICEF Iran
International Committee of the Red Cross – International Humanitarian Law
