One-Third of Syrian Children Born Since Conflict Erupted in 2011 - UNICEF

Some 3.7 million Syrian children, or one-third of total child population in the country, have been born since the civil war erupted in 2011, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a press release on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the press release, the conflict in Syria has affected some 8.4 million children, or over 80 percent of all children, either internally displaced or as refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.

"Five years into the war, millions of children have grown up too fast and way ahead of their time. As the war continues, children are fighting an adult war, they are continuing to drop out of school, and many are forced into labour, while girls are marrying early," UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Peter Salama, said as quoted by the press release.

The UN children's funds claims that children are being used by the parties to the Syrian conflict as executioners or snipers. According to UNICEF, more than 50 percent of children, who were recruited in 2015 to participate in hostilities, were under 15 years old.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups.

A new round of talks between the Syrian opposition and the country's government aimed to put an end to the conflict began in Geneva on Monday, and is expected to be over by March 24.