2.10. Children

Table of contents

2.10.1. Impact of violence on children

According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), as of the end of March 2026, 6.9 million children were in need of humanitarian assistance across Syria.868 Nutritional risks, particularly for children under five, remained high,869 with 600 000 children estimated to be ‘suffering from wasting’ as of early 2026.870 The main concerns relating to children include neglect, child labour, child marriage, and domestic violence,871 exacerbated by economic hardships,872 deteriorating living conditions,873 displacement, and exposure to explosive ordnance.874 UNICEF highlighted that displacement and overcrowded living conditions increased the risk of violence, including sexual violence, for children, girls, and women.875 Different community surveys indicated that families often adopted negative coping strategies, including child labour, child marriage,876 and withdrawing children from school,877 due to economic challenges driven by high living costs and limited access to services.878 These challenges especially affected displaced population879 and communities in northeast Syria.880

Following the fall of the Assad regime, reports on killing of children by armed actors persisted, including by Syrian transitional government forces,881 Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),882 Israel Defence Forces (IDF),883 Turkish-backed forces,884 and armed groups affiliated with the Assad regime.885 However, the majority of the 328 child fatalities documented by SNHR in 2025886, and the 43 recorded during the first quarter of 2026887, were attributed to unidentified perpetrators and landmines.888

Contamination by explosive ordnance remains ‘widespread’ across the country889 and continues posing a significant threat against civilians,890 with children being disproportionately affected891 in both residential and agricultural areas.892 According to UNICEF, at least 5 million children live in areas contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, with more than 300 000 deadly devices scattered across the country.893 UNICEF further estimated that between December 2024 and February 2026 698 people were killed and 1 193 injured by explosive war remnants, with children accounting for 30 % of those killed and 40 % of those injured, although noting that the figures were ‘likely underreported’.894 Between December 2024 and April 2026, SNHR documented the death of at least 74 children due to landmines and cluster munitions.895

During the reporting period, child recruitment by the SDF and affiliated entities continued to be reported.896 For detailed information on child recruitment in Syria, see section Individuals fearing forced or child recruitment by Kurdish-led forces.

As noted in a UNFPA and GBV AoR report, unaccompanied minors, including orphaned children, were more vulnerable to discrimination and exploitation than other children.897 There are several orphanages and childcare institutions under the supervision of the transitional government. These facilities are mostly operated by charities, religious groups, or humanitarian organisations, largely dependent on private donations and foreign funding. Conditions in these institutions were described as ‘generally very poor’.898

  • 868

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Reporting Period: 1 January to 31 March 2026, 8 May 2026, url, p. 2

  • 869

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Reporting Period: 1 January to 31 March 2026, 8 May 2026, url, p. 3

  • 870

    UNICEF, Syrian crisis: After 14 years of conflict and crisis, children continue to pay the heaviest price, 2026, url

  • 871

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights: Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 19; GPC, Protection Monitoring: Summary of Key Findings (September to November 2025), 14 January 2026, url, pp. 2, 4

  • 872

    GPC, Protection Monitoring: Summary of Key Findings (September to November 2025), 14 January 2026, url, p. 4

  • 873

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights: Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 18

  • 874

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Reporting Period: 1 January to 31 March 2026, 8 May 2026, url, p. 3

  • 875

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Reporting Period: 1 January to 31 March 2026, 8 May 2026, url, p. 3

  • 876

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights: Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 19; DRC and MMC, Safe to Stay, Safe to Return? – Regional Syria Crisis Protection Monitoring Quarterly Snapshot (Q4: October - December 2025), 9 April 2026, url, p. 2

  • 877

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Situation Report No. 16, (1-31 October 2025), 23 November 2025, url, p. 2

  • 878

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights: Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 19; DRC and MMC, Safe to Stay, Safe to Return? – Regional Syria Crisis Protection Monitoring Quarterly Snapshot (Q4: October - December 2025), 9 April 2026, url, p. 2

  • 879

    DRC and MMC, Safe to Stay, Safe to Return? – Regional Syria Crisis Protection Monitoring Quarterly Snapshot (Q4: October - December 2025), 9 April 2026, url, p. 2

  • 880

    UNICEF, Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Situation Report No. 16, (1-31 October 2025), 23 November 2025, url, p. 2

  • 881

    OHCHR, Statement by Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee in New York, 30 October 2025, url; OHCHR, Syria: UN experts alarmed by attacks on Druze communities, including sexual violence against women and girls, 21 August 2025, url

  • 882

    UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, 12 March 2026, url, para. 151

  • 883

    UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, 12 March 2026, url, paras. 123, 125 – 127, 129

  • 884

    HRW, World Report 2026, Syria: Events of 2025, 4 February 2026, url

  • 885

    SNHR, Monthly report for victims of extrajudicial killing in Syria, 1 January 2026, url, pp. 2, 3

  • 886

    SNHR, Monthly report for victims of extrajudicial killing in Syria, 1 January 2026, url, pp. 2, 3

  • 887

    SNHR, Quarterly Report on Victims of Unlawful Killings in Syria, 1 April 2026, url, pp. 3-4

  • 888

    SNHR, Monthly report for victims of extrajudicial killing in Syria, 1 January 2026, url, pp. 2, 3; SNHR, Quarterly Report on Victims of Unlawful Killings in Syria, 1 April 2026, url, pp. 3-4

  • 889

    MA AoR, Syria Mine Action AoR: Situation Update No.7 (December 2025 - March 2026), 16 March 2026, available at: url, p. 4; UNHCR, Coming Home: One Year Into Syria’s Transition, 11 December 2025, url, p. 13

  • 890

    SNHR, On the International Day for Mine Awareness: Documenting the deaths of at least 3,799 civilians from landmines and cluster munitions in Syria, March 2011 – April 2026, 4 April 2026, url, p. 1; Etana Syria, BRIEF: Recent developments in south-west Syria, 2 April 2026, url

  • 891

    SNHR, On the International Day for Mine Awareness: Documenting the deaths of at least 3,799 civilians from landmines and cluster munitions in Syria, March 2011 – April 2026, 4 April 2026, url, p. 1; GPC, Protection Monitoring: Summary of Key Findings (September to November 2025), 14 January 2026, url, pp. 5 – 6; UNICEF, Children in Syria remain at deadly risk from explosive remnants of war, 4 April 2026, url

  • 892

    MA AoR, Syria Mine Action AoR: Situation Update No.7 (December 2025 - March 2026), 16 March 2026, available at: url, pp. 3, 5

  • 893

    UNICEF, Children in Syria remain at deadly risk from explosive remnants of war, 4 April 2026, url

  • 894

    UNICEF, Children in Syria remain at deadly risk from explosive remnants of war, 4 April 2026, url

  • 895

    SNHR, On the International Day for Mine Awareness: Documenting the deaths of at least 3,799 civilians from landmines and cluster munitions in Syria, March 2011 – April 2026, 4 April 2026, url, pp. 8, 9

  • 896

    UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, 12 March 2026, url, paras. 99, 131, 164; SNHR, Child Recruitment in SDF-Controlled Areas: Legal Framework and Documented Practices, 14 January 2026, url

  • 897

    UNFPA and GBV AoR, Voices From Syria 2025, 14 October 2025, url, p. 36

  • 898

    Netherlands (The), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Country of Origin Information Report on Syria, January 2026, url, p. 116