International Day to Protect Education from Attack: The Importance of Accountability and Ending Impunity

The systematic targeting of schools and educational facilities is yet another facet of the Syrian regime and Russia's war on the Syrian people, attacking both their present and their future.

Over the years, the Syrian regime and Russia have consistently targeted public infrastructure and service institutions across various sectors, with little regard for international laws and treaties. Educational institutions and schools have been primary targets during the past 13 years, reflecting a deliberate effort by the Syrian regime and its allies to disrupt the future of Syria’s youth.

The protracted war has placed significant strain on the education sector due to the continuous and targeted attacks on schools and educational facilities by the Syrian regime and Russia. These actions have prevented thousands of children from schools, depriving them access to education, and creating substantial uncertainty about the future of an entire generation and the future of Syria.

Schools Targeted by the Regime and Russia

Throughout this year, regime and Russian forces have persistently targeted educational institutions and schools in northwestern Syria, resulting in eight documented systematic attacks on schools. Notably, a Russian airstrike on July 10th hit the Industrial Vocational High School, which was already out of service, in the city of Jisr al-Shughur, western Idlib.

Syrian regime forces have also targeted schools at various educational levels in the cities, towns, and villages of Idlib, including Sarmada, Talm, Ktiyan, Bara, and Nairab, using artillery, rockets, and drones. Although these attacks did not cause injuries to students or educational staff, as they occurred either outside school hours, on holidays, or at schools already out of service, they have exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities in the educational infrastructure, which had already been severely damaged by previous bombing campaigns.

Last year witnessed a significant rise in the targeting of schools in northwestern Syria by the regime and Russia, with 29 schools attacked. Notably, on December 2nd, Al-Shuhada School in the town of Afes, eastern Idlib, was shelled during school hours, resulting in injuries to a teacher and three children. The teacher, Rania Muhimeed, and the child, Ibrahim Farid Al-Mustafa, later succumbed to their injuries.

Repeated attacks on schools have disrupted education both temporally and geographically. Many schools have been forced to close, while others operate under constant threat, leading to a significant decline in attendance rates and a reduction in the quality of education.

Since 2011, systematic military operations and shelling by regime and Russian forces have damaged thousands of schools. The White Helmets has responded to 172 attacks by the Syrian regime and Russia targeting schools and educational facilities in northwestern Syria from 2019 to the present. These attacks were distributed as follows: 89 in 2019, 40 in 2020, 7 in 2021, 2 in 2022, and 29 in 2023. So far in 2024, from January to September 5th, there have been 8 recorded attacks on schools in northwestern Syria.

Bombing Schools: Another Facet of the War

An analysis of the geographical distribution of schools targeted over the past year and this year suggests that Syrian regime and Russian forces have focused on schools that survived or were unaffected by the earthquake. In other words, schools that were not damaged by the earthquake have become the target of systematic bombing campaigns by regime and Russian forces. This further underscores that the systematic targeting of schools and educational facilities is another aspect of the regime's and Russia's ongoing war against the Syrian people, impacting both their present and future.

The Role of the White Helmets in Supporting Education

The White Helmets plays a vital role in supporting education in northwestern Syria by implementing various measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. These initiatives include installing early warning systems in 93 schools across the region to provide alerts in case of potential airstrikes. Additionally, the White Helmets conduct awareness sessions and drills to train students and educational staff on safe evacuation procedures during bombings and other disasters, thereby helping to safeguard the well-being of students.

The work of unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal teams within schools and educational facilities is a key component of the White Helmets' efforts to protect the education sector in northwestern Syria. These teams conduct surveys in schools located in areas that have been bombed to ensure that they are free of any remnants before the school year begins. Additionally, they hold awareness sessions for students and educational staff on the dangers of war remnants and the appropriate actions to take if they encounter any suspicious objects.

The White Helmets also strive to support education in northwestern Syria through various efforts such as the reconstruction and repair of schools damaged by the earthquake and systematic bombing campaigns by Syrian regime and Russian forces. They also prepare schools for exam periods and maintain a presence at examination centers to provide assistance in case of any emergencies.

Educational Puppet Theater

The White Helmets has introduced an innovative method for promoting awareness and education through the "Educational Puppet Theater" project, in collaboration with the "Najoon" Foundation. This initiative involves mobile teams performing in schools, camps, and parks. The project addresses crucial topics such as "child labor, school dropout, and the importance of education," with the goal of raising awareness and disseminating knowledge about these issues.

The killing of children and the destruction of their futures cannot remain an issue ignored by the international community and United Nations organizations. The Syrian regime's continued impunity has emboldened it to escalate its crimes, advance its weapons, and use precision munitions, making it clear that its attacks are deliberate, targeting civilians—particularly children—to instill fear and cause harm.

The international community must take decisive action to end these deadly attacks on children, ensure their protection, hold the perpetrators accountable, and prevent impunity. These measures are essential for safeguarding education and making every effort to support children in reclaiming their futures, as they are the key to Syria’s future.