SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday that it was shocked at the killing of a 12-year-old boy in an attack in northern Sinjar, Snune town.
“UNICEF condemns all acts of violence against children and joins the family in mourning the killing of their child. Being a victim of, witnessing, or fearing violence should never be part of any child’s experience” UNICEF said in a statement.
UNICEF called on all parties to fulfill their obligations under international law to protect children at all times and without delay. All children in Iraq deserve to live their lives without the constant threat of violence, according to the statement.
“The continued usage of explosive weapons in populated areas continues to put children’s lives at stake not only today but puts future generations at risk and needs to stop. In the last 5 years, at least 519 children have been killed or maimed by explosive ordnance” it added.
UNICEF further said that it appeals to all parties to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth, and calls for the upholding of children’s right to protection and to live in an environment that is free from violence at all times.
On Wednesday Turkey’s warplanes carried out an airstrike on Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) base in northern Sinjar, Snune town, leaving the Mayor’s building destroyed, and two killed as the result, one of them was a 12-year-old child who killed inside his father’s nearby shop.
The targeted base belongs to (YBS) a military wing of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) which Turkey, the United States, and the European Union classify as a terrorist group.
Turkey has expanded its military campaign in Iraq to destroy the (PKK) positions in the country, the airstrikes in Iraq operating alongside the Claw-Lock operation in the Kurdistan Region.
In April, Turkey launched a new ground and air campaign in the Region, targeting PKK positions, Dubbed Operation Claw-Lock, Ankara says the offensive is a measure to prevent the PKK from using Iraq as a base to carry out attacks in Turkey.
