Save the Children has called for the protection of all children and civilian infrastructure, especially schools and hospitals, following the escalation of violence in the Middle East and wider region, with reports of more than 100 children killed in strikes on two schools in Iran.
The child rights organisation is urgently calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, to reduce the risk to children's lives and wellbeing.
While hostilities are ongoing, all parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, including by ensuring that civilians and civilian objects, including schools and hospitals, are spared from attack. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas risks severe harm to civilians, especially children, and should be avoided at all costs.
Inger Ashing, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children International, said
"We are standing at the brink of a devastating war that is already having horrific consequences for children and their families. Children should never be caught in the crossfire, and their homes, schools and communities must not become battlefields. Wars have laws. Children and schools must be off limits.
"Save the Children condemns attacks on schools and other civilian infrastructure in the strongest possible terms and calls for the respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure from attack.
"Every war is a war on children, and the world cannot stand by and watch children be killed or injured. When hostilities intensify, children are always the first to suffer as they risk facing displacement, missing out on education, losing access to essential healthcare and protection, or worse, getting injured or killed or losing their loved ones.
"Every possible effort must now be taken to prevent further escalation and to safeguard children. We urgently call on all parties involved in the violence in Iran and across the region to immediately de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under international law. Civilians – especially children – must be protected at all times."
Save the Children is the world's largest independent child rights organisation, working in about 110 countries to save and improve children's lives. The organisation is not active in Iran.
