Increased protection for children following attacks

The Ministry of Interior has announced it will increase security measures to protect children from ongoing violence after a recent report cited shocking figures for children killed and injured in the past four months. “We’ll intensify security in schools and universities with checkpoints, and alert parents not to let their children walk alone, at least until the situation is under control,” said Abdel Amir Mahmoud, a senior ministry official. The report, issued on 1 March by the Ministry of Education, also appealed for better security for children. “The report showed that children in our country are being innocently killed,” said Kamal Muhammad, a senior education ministry official. “We urge the Ministry of Interior to take measures to protect them.” According to Muhammad, the report states that 64 children were killed and 57 injured in a total of 417 attacks on educational institutions since November 2005. Additionally, more than 47 youngsters were kidnapped on their way to or from school for the same period. The report also noted that 311 teachers and government employees had been killed and another 158 wounded in attacks. "These numbers are scandalous, and urgent procedures should be taken to protect our children and guarantee their safety," Muhammad said. The latest incident was reported on 15 February, when three children were killed by a bomb while on their way to school. According to experts, such a violent atmosphere can deeply affect the psychology of children and their families. "Children are traumatised from the violence because all this terror is happening in front of their eyes," David Singh, communications officer for UNICEF-Iraq, said from the Jordanian capital, Amman. The Primary Students Association (PSA) in Baghdad also noted that such violence can produce feelings of aggression in children. “When you speak with students about the violence, the main feeling is of revenge, because their loved ones or friends have been killed,” said PSA spokeswoman Mariam Omar. “They say their dream is to be able to shoot whoever was responsible. Urgent psychological help should be offered these children.” Observers, meanwhile, are at a loss to explain the motivations behind attacks on schools and schoolchildren. “There’s no confirmed evidence of why schools are being targeted,” said Singh. “But whatever the reason, it doesn’t justify the reality that children are losing their lives. The government should take urgent measures to restore their safety.”