GENEVA / DAMASCUS, 3 October 2014 – “UNICEF welcomes the release of 70 Kurdish children after 120 days of captivity. These children were kidnapped on 29 May 2014 while traveling from their home-town of Ai’n Al Arab in the northern Syrian governorate of Aleppo to take their final school examinations. 

“The physical and psychological well-being of these children is currently being assessed. We remain deeply concerned about the safety of children and teachers who are still in captivity. 

“The abduction, recruitment and use of children in hostilities are grave child rights violations.

“In this time of conflict, it is the obligation of all Parties to ensure that Syrian children be kept out of harm’s way and granted unhindered and safe access to education.”

Statement attributable to Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Representative in Syria