‘Eight children died in Syria’s Al Hol camp in less than a week’

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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that eight children have lost their lives in Syria's Al Hol camp in less than a week.

Releasing a written statement, UNICEF has said that it is "deeply alarmed by reports that eight children under the age of five died in the Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria just in less than a week."

According to the statement of UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, the deaths occurred between August 6 and 10. While four children died of malnutrition-related complications, the other deaths were due to dehydration from diarrhoea, heart failure, internal bleeding and hypoglycemia.

"Any child's death is tragic. It is even more so when the death could have been averted," Fore has said, briefly adding the following:

'COVID-19 is making the situation worse'

"Nearly 40,000 children from more than 60 countries continue to languish in Al Hol. They lack access to basic services and have to contend with the sweltering summer heat and the trauma of violence and displacement.

"COVID-19, with the resulting movement restrictions and quarantine measures, is making a critical situation even worse.

"Recent confirmed infections among camp workers have led to a pause in some health and education services, and to a temporary reduction in the number of workers operating in the camp.

"It is critical that the resumption of health and nutrition services is prioritized and that emergency care options are in place.

'All children have the right to be protected'

"Despite these limitations, UNICEF and partners continue to provide essential lifesaving services including water trucking, and health, nutrition and child protection services. UNICEF is also supporting community volunteers to further raise awareness on COVID-19 preventive measures.

"But a longer-term solution is long overdue. Children in Al Hol, like all children affected by conflict, have the right to humanitarian assistance.

"Those born to foreign nationals have the right to be safeguarded, including with legal documentation, family reunification and repatriation to their home countries when it is in their best interest.

"All children have the right to be protected from the devastating effects the pandemic is having on their survival, learning and protection." (TP/SD)