Syria: Underground schools not safe from earthquake bombs

Children in Aleppo can’t even attend underground schools because of bunker-busting ‘earthquake bombs’.

Many schools in the city – including 8 that we support – had been moved to the basement to protect children.

But because of these bombs, even these schools aren’t safe now. And all schools in East Aleppo, which were due to re-open for the new school year tomorrow, will remain closed.

That means 100,000 children will be out of education.

Bunker-busting bombs

Also known as ‘earthquake bombs’, these weapons burrow five meters underground then explode. They were designed to destroy military installations – not safe havens for children.

They’re having a devastating impact on areas where people live, work and go to school – killing and maiming people who thought they would be safer in the basement.

Schools destroyed

Ferocious attacks have left children fearing for their lives.

“When the plane comes, we sit on the floor, afraid that things might fall above us” said 12-year-old Amjad.

“One of my friends died in the bombing – he was my best friend.”

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Children’s lives at risk

More than 300 children have been killed or injured in Eastern Aleppo in the past five days alone.

In the last three months, 7 staff and 5 students have been killed just in schools that we support in Eastern Aleppo.

Omar, a school principal in Aleppo, said: “Parents are afraid to send their children to school because everything is targeted.”

Talking about the bunker-busting bombs, he added: “Hearing the sound creates a state of terror and panic that is not like anything else. The immense power of destruction is the most important – it can destroy underground shelters and basements, and the buildings get totally destroyed, not just partially.”

Children more likely to be in hospital than school

School enrolment is as low as 6 per cent, because of displacement and poverty, and parents’ fears that their children will be targeted at school.

Nick Finney, our North West Syria Country Director, said: “We’re now more likely to see children pulled from the rubble or treated on the floor of a hospital than sat at a school desk.

“Children deserve the right to play, to learn, to be children. The use of bunker-busting bombs means there is literally nowhere we can keep children safe, and we want to see the use of these weapons investigated as a potential war crime.

He added: “As families struggle for survival, the start of the new school year will come and go. Syria’s children have paid a heavy price for a conflict that is not of their making. This appalling escalation in violence will eventually end, but for those who survive, it will be very difficult to get back the years of schooling children have missed and rebuild their lives.”

What we’re doing

We’ve run catch-up classes throughout the summer, and we’ve given out study-at-home kits so children can keep up their education, even when they’re not at school.

We also have 54 education kits for schools ready to enter the city, and thousands of food baskets.

But the siege and intense violence means this aid can’t reach Aleppo’s children.

What we’re calling for

We urgently need a ceasefire agreement to stop indiscriminate attacks on civilians, so that we can bring in aid and reopen schools.

All parties to the conflict must also stop using heavy explosive weapons in populated areas.

They’ve caused death, destruction, injury, and psychological trauma to children and families across Syria.

And attacks on schools – that have become all too common – must end.

We must protect children in war – join our campaign now.

Related blogs:

• Hundreds of children pulled from rubble in East Aleppo
• How UK aid is helping refugees in Jordan
• “Bewildered and covered in blood.” Syria’s children one year after Alan Kurdi’s death

Names have been changed to protect identities.