Bericht von "Save the Children", 09.03.2016 (engl. Originalfassung)
At least a quarter of a million children are living under brutal siege in areas of Syria that have effectively been turned into open-air prisons. They and their families are cut off from the outside world, surrounded by warring groups that illegally use siege against civilians as a weapon of war, preventing food, medicine, fuel and other vital supplies from entering and stopping people from fleeing. Amid the spiralling atrocities in Syria, these children are among the most vulnerable of all. They want the world to hear their story.This report aims to shed light on the terrifying reality of life and death that is being endured by people– particularly children – in besieged areas of Syria, and show the urgent need for the international community to take action. Save the Children and partners have conducted 22 focus groups with 126 mothers, fathers and children living in besieged areas of Syria, as well as 25 extensive interviews with local aid groups, doctors, teachers and individuals.
Our research illustrates the horrific impact of these sieges on the lives of children:
•In 16 of the 17 adult focus groups, people reported that children in their community have died from ill-nesses because medicine or adequate healthcare is unavailable as a result of the siege.
•People in all 22 focus groups said they have had to cut the number of meals they eat in a day by half or more. In seven of the groups (32%), people said they are sometimes unable to eat even one meal a day, with four of the adult groups (24%) reporting that local children have died from lack of food.
•All five children’s focus groups said they live in con-stant fear of ongoing bombing and shelling, with all 17 adult groups observing significant changes in their children’s behaviour over the period of siege. 14 groups (82%) reported their children becoming more aggressive, withdrawn or depressed.
•In half of the groups there were children who are unable to attend school, mainly for fear of bombing.
No child should have to live under these conditions. Parties to the conflict have an obligation under international law to allow humanitarian aid to reach besieged areas. For far too long the rights of children and other civilians in these areas have been denied, with disastrous consequences. This intolerable situation cannot be permitted to continue.
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