Syria Conflict: United Nations verifies over 7,000 child casualties in Syria since 2013

Virginia Gamba, who focuses on children in conflict, told the Security Council today that since the beginning of 2018, the UN has verified over 1,200 violations against children.

Syrian children ride a truck carrying their personal belongings at a Lebanese army checkpoint in Wadi Hmeid in the Bekaa valley, after leaving the village of Arsal to return to their homes in Syria's Qalamoun region on July 23, 2018. (Photo | AFP) 

UNITED NATIONS: A UN envoy says the United Nations has verified that more than 7,000 children have lost their lives or been injured in the Syrian conflict since 2013, and cites unverified reports putting the number "way beyond 20,000."

Virginia Gamba, who focuses on children in conflict, told the Security Council today that since the beginning of 2018, the UN has verified over 1,200 violations against children.

These include more than 600 children killed or maimed and over 180 recruited or used by government forces or armed groups, she said.

Gamba said the first quarter of 2018 saw a 348 per cent increase in killing and maiming of children compared to the previous quarter.

She also said the detention of children for alleged association with armed forces and groups "has exponentially increased."