Urgent Critical Action Needed to Save the Lives of Thousands of Children Near Jordan’s North-Eastern Border with Syria
Attributable to Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa
AMMAN (October 10, 2018) – “In the past 48 hours, two more children, a five-day old boy and a four-month old girl have died in Rukban, near Jordan’s North-Eastern border with Syria, without access to a hospital.
“While the UN-supported clinic near the border inside Jordan continues to provide basic health services for urgent lifesaving cases, more sophisticated health care is required. This is only available in hospitals.
“The situation for the estimated 45,000 people— among them many children— will further worsen with the cold winter months fast approaching, especially when temperatures dip below freezing point in the harsh desert conditions.
“The two children in Rukban are among many, many children in Syria and the region who died in a conflict that they have absolutely no responsibility for. Their lives have been cut short, their families forever broken in grief.
"We collectively continue failing to stop the war on children in Syria!
“Once again, UNICEF appeals to all parties to the conflict in Syria and those who have influence over them, to allow and facilitate access to basic services including health for children and families. This is the very minimum for human dignity.
“Above all it is time to finally put an end to the war on children. History will judge us and the death of children, preventable in many cases, will continue to chase us.”
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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For more information, contact
Erica Vogel, UNICEF USA, 212.922.2480, evogel@unicefusa.org