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Up First from NPR

Syria's Missing Children

May 4, 2025
Diaa Hadid, an NPR correspondent who reported from Damascus, sheds light on the heartbreaking reality of Syria's missing children during the ongoing civil war. She emotionally recounts the struggles of mothers separated from their children by security forces, revealing the urgent search for answers that continues today. The discussion explores the role of organizations like UNICEF, the complexities of orphanhood, and alarming possibilities like human trafficking. Hadid emphasizes the need for greater awareness of this tragic situation affecting countless families.
29:50

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Thousands of children in Syria have been separated from their families by security forces, with around 3,700 still missing.
  • The emotional and psychological burden on families seeking their missing children highlights the need for accountability and healing.

Deep dives

The Disappearance of Children in Syria

The Syrian Civil War has led to widespread reports of children being taken from their families by government forces, with many remaining unaccounted for. A significant number of these children were effectively held in secret by orphanages throughout the region under orders from intelligence agencies. The situation reflects a systemic problem where innocent children are treated as collateral in political struggles, leading to an alarming count of approximately 3,700 children still missing. The ongoing trauma of these separations emphasizes the urgent need to find and reunite these children with their families.

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