By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 29 -- Amid reports that the US already provides or is ready to provide aid to armed groups in Syria like the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a finding in the UN's new report on Children and Armed Conflict in Syria become relevant:
"Throughout the reporting period, the United Nations received consistent reports of recruitment and use of children by FSA-affiliated groups."
The US has cited the recruitment and use of child soldiers to suspend US aid to armies of governments which had previously been receiving it. So how could the US provide aid to a non-state group which even the UN has found using child soldiers?
The report, to be issued as a document of the UN Security Council under the symbol S/2014/31, goes on to recount:
"Boys aged 12 to 17 were trained, armed, and used as combatants or to man checkpoints. For instance, a 15 year-old boy reported being recruited in April 2012 by the FSA in Tall Kalakh (Tartus governate), and participation in military operations.... Also indicative was the case of a 16 year-old boy from Homs who reportedly joined the FSA as a combatant. In March 2013, his family reported to the United Nations that he was still fighting with the group."
And is this boy still fighting with the FSA? There is more to be said about this UN report, but as to the US and the recent report it is or is moving toward aiding the armed FSA, what steps will be taken on this UN report? Watch this site.
