70 children freed in Syria by ISIL


Seventy Kurdish children who were kidnapped by the militant group Islamic state (ISIL) in the northern Syrian governorate of Aleppo have been freed, according to the UN Children's fund UNICEF.

The children aged between 14 and 16 years were abducted at the end of May this year while traveling from their home town of Ai'n Al Arab in Aleppo to take their final school examinations.

UNICEF says an unknown number of children and teachers still remain in captivity.
Christophe Boulierac is UNICEF's spokesperson in Geneva.

"The physical and psychological well-being of these children is currently being assessed. We remain deeply concerned about the safety of children and teachers who are still in captivity. The abduction, recruitment and use of children in hostilities are grave child rights violations. In this time of conflict, it is the obligation of all Parties to ensure that Syrian children be kept out of harm's way and granted unhindered and safe access to education."
 
UNICEF is appealing to the militant group to free the remaining children and teachers unconditionally.

SOURCE: Patrick Maigua, United Nations, Geneva.