The invading Turkish army and its mercenaries continue to shell the towns and villages in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava. The attacks have led to loss of lives and material damage to the properties of citizens.

Since the occupation of Girê Spî (ar: Tal Abyad) on October 9, 2019, the regions in North and East Syria have been under heavy artillery fire.

As a result of the Turkish bombardments, many citizens, including children, women and the elderly, were martyred. The number of martyrs has risen to 56. The latest genocidal attacks targeted the Sefawiye and Hedriyat villages once and in the village of Dibis twice.

The Girê Spî Child Protection Bureau documents the crimes committed by the Turkish army and its mercenaries in the villages of Girê Spî and Ain Issa. The Bureau submits its reports to the relevant international institutions.

According to a report by the Bureau, nearly 31 children were killed or injured as a result of the never-ending attacks.

The names of the 9 child martyrs are as follows: Hatim Zêdan El-Misto (7), Mistefa Salih El-Ehmed (17), Ehmed Îbrahîm El-Rihîm (12), Mehmûd Himêdî El-Xelîl (13), Ziyad zêd El-Xelef (12), Huda Zêd El-Xelef (9), Muna Zêd El-Xelef (7), Mistefa Salih (14) and Mihemed Elî El-Ehmed (14).

The names of the 22 injured children are as follows: Ebid Xidir El-Serhan (7), Mehmûd Zêdan Zêdan (3), Udey Îsmaîl El-Ehmed (16), Mueyed Elî El-Ehmed (15), Mihmed Elî El-Ehmed (16), Ebdurehîm Mihemed El-Hemed (12), Emine Necîb (7), Sîdra Zêd El-Xelef (1), Udey Îsmaîl (15), Mistefa Adil Ehmed (17), Eqîl Ezîz Hisên (16), Reşid Hesen El-Xelef (11), Beşîr Zêd El-Hesen (16), Rexed Elî (15), Netîl Talib (1), Mehmûd Elî Merîd (17), Xufran Mistefa Xelîl (15), Ebod Hemed Xelîl (12), Munîr Xalid Hisên (16), Xelef Casim Feric (15), Ewad Newaş Inêzan (14), Mahir Newaş Enêzan (10).

DOCUMENTED CRIMES SUBMITTED TO RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS

Some of the children’s limbs were amputated, as in the cases of Mueyed Ali El-Ehmed and his cousin Udey Ismail from the village of El-Ehmêr (20 km west of Ain Issa). These children were injured following a Turkish missile attack.

“We reported crimes against dozens of children as a result of the continuous shelling of the invading Turkish army in Girê Spi and Ain Issa. Most of the cases we have reported are crimes that can be considered as war crimes. Dozens of children were martyred and some of the affected children were crippled by mine explosions,” Girê Spi Child Protection Bureau Co-Chair Fadye Şerif said.

Şerif called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene in and hold the Turkish state and its mercenaries responsible for these crimes. She said that they submitted the documents to the relevant international organizations.

CHILDREN ARE DEPRIVED OF RIGHTS

The number of injured children has risen to 24. On March 22, two children were treated at Omar Eluş Hospital after they were injured as a result of a Turkish artillery fire in the village of Xirbet El-Bêde, one kilometer south of the M4 road, near Ain Issa. The names of the injured children are as follows: Mihemed Xelîl El Hesan and Eymen Hesen El Hesan (12).

Apart from the crimes mentioned above, children are deprived of their rights, including the right to education. Around 5 thousand children do not go to school after the invading Turkish army and its mercenaries shelled their settlements. According to the Girê Spi Educational Institution, 23 schools were closed due to the ongoing war.