Page 259 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

9,500 children are currently
imprisoned in Syria. The same
58
report also states that 94 chil-
dren have died as a direct result
of torture.

Not only in Syria, but also
in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and
in many other countries, chil-

dren and their parents are
dying and the number of chil-
dren being orphaned in war
continues to increase. Millions
of children cannot go to school,
cannot be properly nourished,
do not have access to medical

services, and live in constant
fear for their lives. Even for
those children who somehow
escaped from the battlefield,
many difficulties await them. Most of the children who took refuge in
neighboring countries no longer have a home. They do not have any
clothes. Nor do they have any personal belongings, toys, schools or
friends. Most importantly, they do not have anyone who can show them
sincere love, affection and attention.

"These children cannot be protected. They are exposed to sexual abuse,

59
child labor and child marriage. Their future is being stolen from them," says
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Yoka Brandt.
The situation of Syrian children has been reduced to a mere foot-
note in mainstream news stories. People are seeing burned-out and

ruined homes, the bodies of bullet-riddled children with bleary eyes.
Even if they see the news and photos revealing the misery of war on

Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) 257