AANES celebrates World Children’s Day in Kobani, Manbij
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) organized in the cities of Kobani and Manbij, northern Syria, two celebrations on the occasion of World Children’s Day.
On Sunday, similar events were held in the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli, northeastern Syria.
The World Children’s Day was firstly declared in 1954 and is celebrated annually on Nov. 20 to promote international solidarity and raise awareness regarding children worldwide.
The event in Kobani was held at al-Furat Hall by the AANES Child Protection Office of Kobani under the theme ‘Together to Uphold Children’s Rights to Build a Bright Future’.
The event was attended by AANES officials, parents, managers of education centers, as well as children from kindergartens and the Kobani orphanage.
Rukn Ahmad, Deputy Head of the AANES Woman Board and spokesperson for the Child Protection Council in Kobani, stated that areas in northern and northeastern Syria are still under Turkish attacks, depriving children of their rights, especially their right to education.
According to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press, over 679 child casualties have been recorded since the beginning of 2023. Among them, 250 children were killed, while 429 others were injured. The majority of these casualties resulted from indiscriminate shelling and war remnants, accounting for 155 deaths and 263 injuries.
The alarming number of child casualties emphasizes the pressing need to address the indiscriminate violence and long-lasting consequences of the war on Syria’s most vulnerable population.
Ahmad appealed to international child rights organizations to step up efforts to curb Turkish attacks that target children, so that they can build a future that ensures freedom and peace for children in the region.
Another celebration was held in Manbij at the Cultural and Art Center in the city center. It was organized by the AANES Child Protection Office in coordination with the AANES Woman Committee under the theme ‘Our Children, the Blossoms of the Future’.
Nour Qabrtai, an official at the AANES Child Protection Office of Manbij, stated that the aim of the event is to promote international cooperation and achieve security, peace, and well-being for children, encouraging their participation in all areas of society.
Qabrtai added that celebrating this day brings joy and happiness to the hearts of children, and it marks the fourth festival for children in Manbij.
The AANES-affiliated Raqqa Civil Council is also scheduled to celebrate the same event on Nov. 21 in the city of Raqqa, northern Syria.