Ribal Al-Assad appalled at bomb attack near School
Thursday, 20 February 2014
18 were killed in the recent bombing in Muzeiribin
UN condemns bomb which killed 18 near Syria school
BBC NEWS
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has described its shock and outrage at a bomb attack which killed 18 people near a school it runs in Syria.
The attack came eight days after another explosion injured 40 children at another UN school in the same town.
In a separate report, the UN said that an estimated 240,000 people were trapped in areas under siege in Syria.
Over 100,000 people have been killed in Syria since the fighting began in 2011.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, known as Unwra, said that the explosion at the school had happened just before midday on Tuesday.
The attack took place at the Zeitoun school in the town of Muzeirib, near the border with Jordan.
The 18 people who died included five children and a nurse, the UN said.
At least 20 people were injured, including two staff members and eight children, the agency said.
Unwra Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi said he felt "revulsion at this wanton disregard for civilian life and international law".
In a separate report released on Wednesday, the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said that an estimated 240,000 Syrians were suffering under local sieges.
The sieges "are imposed by Syrian government forces and pro-government militias, as well as by armed opposition groups", the report said.
"The Security Council is continuing to fail Syrians by not even managing to agree on measures to ensure the provision of basic necessities to people," Ms Pillay said.
Cases of government-enforced sieges have been coupled with shelling and aerial bombardment, the report said.
Another report on Wednesday, by Human Rights Watch, said Syrian government forces were now using a powerful type of cluster munition rocket that had not been seen before in the conflict,
Rebel forces have been fighting President Bashar Al-Assad's troops in Syria since 2011.
Condemning the attack, ODFS Director, Ribal Al-Assad said:
"I am appalled and tremendously concerned to read of this recent attack in Muzeirib.
It is clear that an urgent investigation is needed to establish the facts, whoever is behind this reckless act must be brought to justice. There can never be an excuse or reason for such callousness.
How many more attacks do the Syrian people have to endure before we see an end to the conflict?
Attacks like this only reenforce the urgent need for a solution to the situation in Syria; a solution driven by dialogue and diplomacy with all parties who have a genunine belief in freedom and democracy.
My thoughts are with the victims and their families at this time."