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Hundreds of children detained in Hassakeh prison should never be detained because of their links to armed groups, UNICEF says.
Hundreds of children detained in a Syrian prison who witnessed a 10-day bloody battle between US-backed Kurdish fighters and ISIL (ISIL) live in “extremely precarious” conditions and should not be there first, according to the UN. God.
The UNICEF children’s agency added that it is ready to help a new safe place in northeastern Syria to care for the most vulnerable children, some of whom are under 12 years old. Hassakeh prison in the northeastern city.
UNICEF members said after visiting the children in prison that they had been living in serious condition for years, and that in January they had “intensified and survived the violence” in and around the facility.
More than 3,000 prisoners, including more than 600 children, are being held at Hassakeh Prison.
“Although some basic services are now in place, the plight of these children is extremely precarious,” Bo UN Secretary-General Syria’s Viktor Viktor Nylund said in a statement.
While the boys were separated from the adults, the groups were confused when ISIL the fighters rushed to jail In a January 20 jail term. Some prisoners escaped, while others, including children arrested, were taken hostage in the ensuing battle.
“Treat as a victim”
Nylund said that UNICEF is working to provide security and care for them, calling on all stakeholders to seek urgent long-term solutions in the best interests of the children.
“Children should never be detained for joining armed groups,” Nylund said. “Children associated with and recruited from armed groups should always be treated as victims of the conflict.”
International rights groups, including Save the Children and Human Rights Watch, have reportedly arrested about 700 boys in jail before the operation to remove ISIL attackers.
Among the children between the ages of 12 and 18, there were many who had grown-up relatives inside the prison and were taken from the surrounding displacement camps where thousands of children are fighting.
On Friday, Human Rights Watch said hundreds of boys were missing in and around the prison.
Kurdish forces take prison
US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said in a January 31 press conference regain control 77 prison workers, 40 Kurdish fighters and four civilians were killed, along with 374 ISIL detainees and assailants.
Kurdish authorities have not fled any prisoners, but the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said hundreds of ISIL members had fled on Sunday.
“Some of them have crossed into Turkey,” the war monitor said.
Nylund said the destruction around the prison is significant, with houses destroyed about 30,000 people. He said all efforts should be made to provide immediate assistance, including to the Syrian government and local authorities.
He said UNICEF calls for the immediate release of all children in detention centers in northeastern Syria and for the protection of child protection agencies. The agency said it also requires foreign child states repatriate.
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