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Unicef says about 850 children 'in immediate risk' in Ghwayran prison

The Straits Times reported according to Reuters, the United Nations children's agency Unicef said on Tuesday (Jan 25), fears are growing for hundreds of children in a Syrian prison seized by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) inmates, after six days of clashes with Kurdish-led fighters seeking to regain control of the facility.
About 850 children are caught in the crossfire as Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) aided by US troops attempt to storm the prison in Hasaka city after it was seized by militants last Thursday, leaving dozens dead.
Ms Juliette Touma, Unicef's Middle East and North Africa regional advocacy and communications head, told Reuters: "Every day counts. It's very hard to even imagine what atrocities these children are witnessing."
She said: "The children's lives are in immediate risk."
Dozens of ISIS fighters escaped into the surrounding area in last Thursday's attack, which included the detonation of a car bomb near the prison gates, while other inmates took over part of the facility.

The SDF says the death tally now stands at around 200 inmates and 27 of its fighters, while more than 550 militants have surrendered. Clashes continue with militants still holed up in some buildings.
Unicef said fighting must end immediately to allow safe passage for the 850 minors, some as young as 12. The UN children's agency could not verify if any of the children were among the casualties cited by the SDF.
Ghwayran prison: Fighting rages for third day between ISIS and Kurdish forces
The children were detained during US-backed campaigns that finally drove ISIS from its last territorial enclave in Syria in 2019.
United States Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have long criticised the Kurdish-led forces who control large swathes of north-east Syria for holding children in overcrowded, makeshift prisons in inhumane conditions.
The Hasaka prison is the largest of several where the SDF holds thousands without charges or trial and includes civilians who resist forced conscription.
Daesh attacks Ghwayran prison in Syria and frees extremists
The mass detentions in recent years have fuelled growing resentment by Arab tribal members who accuse the Kurdish forces of racial discrimination, a charge denied by the Kurdish-led forces that rule their areas.
The fighting has also forced more than 45,000 civilians, mostly women and children, to flee from their homes in districts near the prison.
Ms Touma added: "These families fled in such a hurry with almost nothing on them in harsh winter weather. Many have already been displaced and fled violence from other parts of Syria."
Source: straitstimes
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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