186 children victims of Syrian revolution so far

Asharq Alawsat - Recent statistics obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat confirm that 186 children and 98 women have been killed since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution on 15 March. The youngest Syrian child killed during the revolution was just 2 months old, whilst the eldest was 18 years old.

The Homs Governorate has witnessed the greatest loss of life of women and children; with 53 children and 34 women having been killed there; whilst 34 children and 21 women were killed in the Daraa Governorate. Following this, the Idlib Governorate and Deir ez-Zour Governorate suffered the next highest casualty rates amongst women and children.

A close reading of these statistics reveals that women of all backgrounds and walks of life were killed in the Syrian uprising, from apolitical mothers and wives, to political activists and detainees. Asharq Al-Awsat viewed a disturbing list of victims that painted a harrowing picture of the human cost of the Syrian revolution. The following victims were listed: the mother of Mohamed Fawarit, the wife of Radwan al-Radi, the sister of Ali al-Dabani, the daughter of Abu al-Shouq, the wife of Ahmed Jarad, the daughter of Mousa Khalil al-Jarad, and many others.

The majority of the Syrian women killed during the Syrian revolution were either shot and killed during demonstrations, or whilst observing these demonstrations from the balconies of their homes. Whilst other Syrian women died after suffering heart attacks or strokes upon receiving the news of the death of a husband, son, or other loved one.

The statistics also reveal that Fatima Awad Qassim was killed whilst trying to escape the unrest by crossing into Lebanon, whilst Fatima Husseini al-Halaq, aged 33, was killed after she fled her home.

Some of the victims were killed whilst trying to defend their children, such as Elham Dawdani and Shafiqa Hayan al-Faris; both were killed alongside their children. Whilst Wafa al-Hamil died after being prevented from entering a hospital by Syrian security forces, although they were informed that her condition was critical.

As for the statistics on the death of Syrian children since the outbreak of the Syrian uprising, Asharq Al-Awsat learnt that a 2-month old Syrian child and a 6-month old Syrian child died after inhaling toxic gas deployed by the Syrian security forces to disperse protesters.

The statistics also named Hamza Ali al-Khateeb, aged 13, as just one of the many Syrian children who have been killed at the hands of the Syrian security apparatus. The report revealed that al-Khateeb was killed after being tortured, suffering numerous fractures and broken bones, whilst he was also reported to have been shot 4 times. The statistics named other Syrian children including Taysir al-Khatib who was killed on the school bus on his way home from school, and Hamza Balla, aged 10, who was killed – like a number of other Syrian children – after being run over by a Syrian security forces vehicle.

A large number of Syrian children have also fallen prey to organ harvesting, with some Syrian children even being abducted from hospital prior to death.

Murshid Abu Zayed, aged 18, was killed after being abducted from Daraa hospital. His body was later found to be missing organs.

A number of Syrian children were subject to torture prior to death, including Tamer al-Shari, aged 15, Abdullah Jeha of Homs, aged 13, Malik al-Masri, aged 17, Nasser al-Saba, aged 16, and others.