"It's an impossible situation to be a child right now in Syria. The simple act of crossing the street has become dangerous for a child, " ABC News quoted UNICEF Chief Communications Officer Kumar M. Tiku as saying.
Last week, a double bombing in front of an elementary school in the city of Homs reportedly claimed the lives of 43 children
"The first blast went off as the children were leaving school," reported ABC News. "The second exploded as parents desperately searched for their children among body parts and rubble that lined the streets near the school."
Schools have been the target of attacks before. According to the article, a government air strike took out a school in Aleppo as an exhibit of the children's drawing was being set up.
Reuters reported that the violence has cut school attendance in half by keeping 2.8 million Syrians out of school and damaging over 3,400 school facilities. Syria now has the second worst school attendance rate in the world.
Save the Children, a charity organization, called going to school in Syria "one of the deadliest pursuits."
Roger Hearn, regional director for the organization, was quoted as saying, "It is no surprise that, under these conditions, Syrian children are dropping out of school by the day, and the international community has to step up its response to ensure that we do not lose an entire generation of children."
