Schools damaged or occupied as children of Aleppo pay the price

Another damaged school in the Etarib district of Aleppo听

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A school lies abandoned, an unexploded rocket embedded in the ground where children used to play.

The buildings and playground have been empty for three weeks since a barrage of mortars and missiles forced the teachers and students at summer remedial classes to flee.

国产视频淲e thought that it was the usual situation and that we would return to school the next day. But we never came back,国产视频� said the head teacher of the 1070 school for girls in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Since the neighbourhood was attacked on August 31, 12 other schools near the 1070 neighbourhood have been been damaged and another eight occupied by fighters.

Education has become another casualty of the intense violence and despair that has rocked Aleppo in recent weeks. Violence and despair that was summed up a few days ago by the picture of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting bewildered in an ambulance after being pulled from a destroyed building.

Students at a primary school in the Shaar district of Aleppo

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It prompted Anthony Lake, Chief Executive of the United Nations children国产视频檚 agency UNICEF, to say: 国产视频淢ore than 100,000 children are trapped in the horror that is Aleppo. They are all suffering things no child should suffer 国产视频� or even see.

国产视频淓mpathy is not enough. Outrage is not enough. Empathy and outrage must be matched by action.国产视频�

There are more than 2.1 million children in Syria who are not in school. In February, donors pledged to help them, as well as the one million Syrian refugee children of school age in neighbourign countries. But the promises have not been matched by action so far 国产视频� with $1 billion still to come in and the new school year about to start.听

TELL WORLD LEADERS TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE

In May, donors failed to meet the $150 million needed to set up the Education Cannot Wait Fund for education in emergencies in its first year 国产视频� a fund to address the education needs of children trapped in conflict and emergency settings at an annual estimated cost of $8.5 billion.

The 1070 school in Aleppo was seen as a place of hope for displaced families who had moved there. Built by UNICEF, it grew from 660 students to 2500.

Hanaa Singer, UNICEF国产视频檚 Representative in Syria, visited the school earlier this year. She said: 国产视频淚 was so inspired by these girls and their passion for education.

国产视频淒espite all the hardships they have been through with their families being displaced by the fighting, it did not stop them from seeking their dreams of an education.国产视频�

But now it lies empty. The head teacher went back two weeks ago and found broken glass and destroyed doors.国产视频�

She told UNICEF: 国产视频淚 saw books scattered on the ground everywhere mixed with the remains of shells and bombs. The walls of the side of the school that is exposed to snipers are filled with bullet holes.

国产视频淚f it was completely destroyed, I would help rebuild it, brick by brick.国产视频�