30/01/2021
New Post!!! UN urges nations to repatriate 27,000 youngsters from Syria
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. counterterrorism chief is urging nations to repatriate the 27,000 youngsters stranded in a large camp in northeastern Syria, lots of them little children of Islamic State extremists who as soon as managed giant swathes of Iraq and Syria.
Vladimir Voronkov informed a casual assembly of the U.N. Safety Council on Friday that “the horrific situation of the children in Al Hol (camp) is one of the most pressing issues in the world today.”
The 27,000 youngsters “remain stranded, abandoned to their fate,” weak to be preyed on by Islamic State enforcers, “and at risk of radicalization within the camp,” he mentioned.
Al Hol, the most important camp for refugees and displaced Syrians within the nation, is at present dwelling to virtually 62,000 residents, in response to U.N. humanitarian officers. Greater than 80% are ladies and youngsters, many who fled there after Islamic State militants misplaced their final Syrian stronghold in 2019. There are a selection of different camps within the northeast as properly.
Voronkov mentioned there are kids from 60 nations within the camps who’re the accountability of their member states, not of Syria or the teams that management the camps. Kurdish fighters are guarding Al-Hol and different camps in addition to hundreds of Islamic State fighters and boys in prisons.
He mentioned plenty of nations — together with Russia and Kazakhstan that convened the digital assembly — “have collectively repatriated nearly 1,000 children and their family members.”
Voronkov mentioned the experiences of the returnees are being compiled “and what we see thus far is that fears of security risks have been unfounded.”
The manager director of the U.N. Counterterrorism Middle confused that youngsters “must be treated primarily as victims” and children beneath the age of 14 shouldn’t be detained or prosecuted.
Historical past has proven that youngsters are resilient and might recuperate from violent experiences if they’re supported in reintegrating into communities, Voronkov mentioned.
“Every effort should be made to ensure children are not kept in institutions but allowed to reintegrate with family members within their communities,” he mentioned.
Virginia Gamba, the U.N. particular consultant for kids and armed battle, informed the Safety Council that youngsters catalogued as being related to armed teams together with the Islamic State and al-Qaida “are the children who have been left adrift by conflict, like flotsam in the sea.”
She echoed Voronkov’s name that they’re handled “primarily as victims, not as security threats and that detention is used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period.”
The psychological well being, security and total improvement of international youngsters held for a very long time “in dramatic conditions” in camps in northeast Syria and Iraq “are at stake,” Gamba mentioned.
“They’re exposed to further trauma and stigmatization and are at risk because of their proximity to members of designated terrorist groups,” she mentioned.
Kids have a proper to a nationality and identification and should not stay stateless, Gamba confused.
Gamba mentioned the repatriation of international youngsters needs to be prioritized “with the best interest of the child,” they usually should be assisted in reintegrating and getting an schooling, well being care and jobs.
“They must be given their childhood back in a safe environment where they can build a future away from violence,” Gamba mentioned. “They deserve a chance at life, like any other child.”
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