New research published by Oxford Research Group in the report “Stolen Futures: the hidden toll of child casualties in Syria” shows that the primary cause of death for children during the conflict in Syria has been the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

The report draws on four different casualty recording databases for the conflict in Syria and provides analysis of the number of casualties, their identities as well as how, when and where they have been killed. The study notes that: “By far the primary cause of death reported for children was explosive weapons, killing 7,557 (71%) of the 10,586 children whose specific cause of death was recorded.”

The reports notes that these are “children killed by bombs and shells in their homes, in their communities and in day-to-day activities such as waiting in bread lines or attending school.” The most common explosive weapons used in Syria have included mortars, artillery shells, large unguided rockets and aircraft bombs.

The report notes that the use of explosive weapons has not only maimed and killed children, but has disrupted healthcare and education, caused long-term psychological trauma and prevented distribution of humanitarian aid. The shelling and bombardment of towns and cities has displaced children from their homes and left them vulnerable to abuse by separating them from their communities.