AMMAN, 5 December 2012 – “UNICEF condemns yesterday’s shelling of a school near Damascus that killed a number of students and a teacher.

“Since the violence in Syria began, schools have been looted, vandalized and burned.

“This is unacceptable. Schools are, and must remain, zones of peace.

“UNICEF renews its call for all parties to the conflict in Syria to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure that all children are protected at all times.”

For further information, please call:

Simon Ingram, UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, +962-79-590-4740

singram@unicef.org

Charbel Raji, UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, +962-79-7315788

craji@unicef.org