Unicef calls for end to Syrian children’s suffering

Beirut, March 11 (IANS) A Unicef official on Monday called on all parties with influence to make peace and put an end to the suffering of Syrian children in their country.

"We call once again upon all parties and anyone with influence to make peace happen now and not tomorrow," said Geert Cappelaere, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's (Unicef) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Cappelaere said that around 5 million Syrian children were born since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported.

"These children have a bleak future with the absence of a political solution to a senseless war," he said.

Cappelaere said that many of these children were born in families associated with extremists, but "these children are not terrorists. They are entitled to childhood and they deserve a fair chance in life."

The Unicef will continue providing support to Syrian children inside Syria and in hosting countries, Cappelaere said.

Cappelaere's remarks came during an event held by the Unicef to launch its first children's songs album, marking eight years since the start of the war in Syria.

The songs are all-time regional favourites written and composed by the world-famous composer Elias Rahbani during the war in Lebanon.

With generous support from the EU Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, the EU "Madad" Fund, Unicef and Jad Rahbani, son of Elias Rahbani, held workshops for nearly 300 children, including children with disabilities, to record the re-arranged version of the songs.

The workshops included Jordanian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Turkish children.

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