Life used to be very different for Syrian children starting the school year, more than 18 months ago, before the bloody conflict tore apart their families, homes and neighbourhoods.

This year, children from rich and poor families, from both sides of the conflict and from all corners of the country, are probably starting school in different circumstances.

Their schools are used as shelters or bases for fighting. Those who will start the school year at all this month may be in a different country such as Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey, in refugee camps or makeshift schools run by NGOs doing what they can.

syria

Syrian teacher Abu al-Fattah gives a lesson to children at an improvised school in the town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey

There are an estimated 470,000 children and young people affected by the crisis, making up around 50% of all displaced Syrians.

In Lebanon, around 1,500 Syrian primary school children will begin the new academic year studying in Lebanese schools after their families fled the bloodshed at home, according to the Associated Press.

Many attend 10 of the Lebanese schools along the country's northern frontier with Syria, seven of them run by an organisation with close links to Jamaa Islamiya, an Islamic group supportive of the rebels in Syria and the Muslim brotherhood.

But Syrian teachers are in short supply, and there are believed to be at least 30,000 children afed between five and 17 in Lebanon, who are not being schooled.

British charity War Child have staff working on the ground in Lebanon, hoping to give scarred child "a routine and a sense of normality."

The charity has built six 'Safe Spaces' in schools in northern Lebanon, offering counselling to 300 children, and are planning to begin offering educational 'catch-up lessons' to those who have fled.

Francisca Guzman, who works for War Child's mission in Lebanon, told The Huffington Post UK: "The school year is just starting, and those arriving in Lebanon now can register to enter the public school system. This has been such a hard-fought battle with the Lebanese government and we're so delighted that they agreed to do this.

syria children

A child in Syria looks horrified at his injuries, one of many wounded in the violence

"But there are still so many obstacles. Many of the refugees arriving here want to remain invisible, they want to keep their children close, they don't want to give their details to the authorities in order to register their children for schools, and they are scared they will be targeted.

"And the education system in Lebanon is mostly in French, which makes it inaccessible to many Syrian children."

War Child stresses that although food, water, safety and shelter are essential for aid agencies to provide to refugees, education is a lower priority, but is just as crucial to prevent a lost Syrian generation, and provide any hope for the future of the country.

Guzman told The Huffington Post UK: "Since the uprising started, schools have been being closed down. And children now see their schools being used as detention centres where people are tortured, as military depots, or destroyed by shelling.

"Most schools have been closed for the last year. Even if schools were open, most parents wouldn't let their children leave the house.

"We know from experience that if children are out of school for more than a year, they are very unlikely to ever go back.

"Very young children will be forced to work. we have to try and make people understand that if they want to make a difference in the future of Syria as a country, education is so important. Otherwise there will be a whole generation of traumatised, uneducated young people."

aleppo

A Free Syria Army fighter carries a baby in Aleppo, the only surviving member of a family

But for many children left in Syria, or in squalid refugee camps, education is barely given a fleeting thought. Many are badly traumatised from witnessing killings, torture and other atrocities in the country's conflict.

War Child estimates that by July 2012, around 1300 children have been killed, with 49 children were massacred in one incident alone.

There have been an estimated 635 children put into detention centres,where torture has been repeatedly testified and girls and boys as young as 12 have been
sexually abused.

Harrowing testimony collected from refugees in Save the Children projects reveals that youngsters have been the target of brutal attacks, seen the deaths of parents, siblings and other children, and have witnessed and experienced torture.

Wael, 16, one of the refugees who Save The Children spoke to, said: “I knew a boy called Ala’a. He was only six years old. He didn’t understand what was happening. I’d say that six-year-old boy was tortured more than anyone else in the room.

syria

A Syrian child is seen with her family who fled from the Syrian town of Qusair near Homs, at the Lebanese-Syrian border village of Qaa, eastern Lebanon

"He wasn’t given food water for three days, and he was so weak he used to faint all the time. He was beaten regularly. I watched him die. He only survived for three days and then he simply died. He was terrified all the time. They treated his body as though he was a dog.”

Like many charities, Save the Children and War Child have been refused permission to enter Syria to help more children but much of the children's testimony corroborates violations documented by the United Nations and human rights organisations in recent months.

Many children have been so emotionally scarred, that they have started self-harming, suffering from nightmares, bedwetting and depression.

Guzman told The Huffington Post UK: "All of the children we see have emotional or behavioural difficulties. It's amazing how strong they are when they have been through so much. But the displacement has really affected them."

syria child

A Syrian boy receives treatment after he was wounded when shells, released by a regime force's helicopter, hit his house in Syria's northern city of Aleppo

One 11-year-old girl saw her best friend shot through the head by a sniper through the window, as they played in their home, and felt the blood splatter onto her face. "She wants to talk about it all the time, it is clearly had such a damaging impact."

Many have seen parents or siblings die slowly from injuries, with the family unable to get them medical care. Others have seen their mothers and sisters raped.

"But here are always inspiring stories," Guzman added. "One girl told me she wants to be a lawyer, she is very determined she wants to help people who are in prison.

"Two boys have told me they are determined to become doctors, after what they have seen. You see their strength and resilience."


Quick Poll

Should charities prioritise education for Syrian children?

VOTE

Ali, 12, lives with his family in Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. He is currently living in a tent with his mother, father and brothers

We left Syria because of the shelling. Every night I’d wake up scared. I’d rather die here than die in Syria. They broke into houses. They stole things from our house, and broke the doors, broke our things. They even stole our food while we were in the basement. In my place, you’d commit suicide from what we’ve seen.

My cousins, a 17-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl, died because of the shelling. It destroyed their home. My cousin’s wife who also died had a newborn baby. Who’ll take care of her? She also had another three young children.

Whenever I heard shelling, I was so scared. I remembered my cousins, and I cried. When I looked at where their house used to be, I felt very sad.

The day my cousins died, the shelling carried on continuously.As I was leaving to head home, two shells were thrown.

The first one destroyed my cousin’s house and the second one destroyed a mosque in the village. I ran, I was so scared.

I just hid in a phone booth. Then I went out on the street and called for my mother. More shells fell and I was scared.

Most were stuck in schools. Many schools were targeted. So much shelling took place there. My second cousin also got injured – he’s eight years old. He was in his house which is next to the school, and he was injured.

Omar came separately here to this camp, and I was asking everyone where he was. I walked around looking for him, looking in every tent, and then I saw him running towards me. I was so happy.

The things I’ve seen have made me strong. You can’t even imagine what I’ve seen, and what Syria has seen. When the armed men came for the first time to our house, I was so afraid.

I miss my neighbourhood the most. And I miss the air. It’s different, not like here. I miss the people, my friends. We used to go walking – there’s a train station that we would walk to each day, I miss doing that. I used to play football and go to the park and go on trips with my school.

I love school. We used to hang out there under the trees, whenever we didn’t want to play sports. My cousin and I were the most popular at our school. Our teachers were great.

I’m so sad now that I don’t go to school. It makes me want to go back to Syria, so I can get back into school.

Loading Slideshow...

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO

    A Syrian boy receives treatment after he was wounded when shells, released by a regime force's helicopter, hit his house in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, on August 24, 2012. Syrian forces blitzed areas in and around the Aleppo, activists said, as Western powers sought to tighten the screws on embattled President Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO

    A Syrian girl receives treatment after she was wounded when shells, released by a regime force's helicopter, hit their house in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, on August 24, 2012. Syrian forces blitzed areas in and around the Aleppo, activists said, as Western powers sought to tighten the screws on embattled President Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO

    A Syrian boy receives treatment after he was wounded when shells, released by a helicopter from regime forces, hit his house in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, on August 24, 2012. Syrian forces blitzed areas in and around the Aleppo, activists said, as Western powers sought to tighten the screws on embattled President Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A Syrian mother takes care of her children after they were displaced from their houses due to fighting between rebel fighters and Syrian government forces on August 25, 2012 at the Syrian border with Turkey . Syrian rebels say they are digging in for a war of attrition in Aleppo, where what was being billed as the 'mother of all battles' is now dragging on into a second month of bloody stalemate. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Syrian girl, Salam Farrouh, 4, who fled her home with her family due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, holds her doll while playing with other children, as they and their families take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Thousands of Syrians who have been displaced by the country's civil are struggling to find safe shelter while shelling and airstrikes by government forces continue. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

  • SYRIA-TURKEY-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A Syrian woman sits with her children after they were not allowed entry to Turkey near the Syrian-Turkish border line on August 27, 2012. Some 9,000 Syrian refugees have massed on the country's northwest border with Turkey, waiting for more camps to be set up to accommodate those fleeing the fighting in Syria, a Turkish diplomat told AFP. Turkey has housed more than 80,000 refugees in camps along the border but these camps cannot take the new influx from the latest fighting. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-TURKEY-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A Free Syria Army fighter stands next to his children at an unofficial rebel camp set-up in an olive grove near the Syrian-Turkish border on August 27, 2012. Some 9,000 Syrian refugees have massed on the country's northwest border with Turkey, waiting for more camps to be set up to accommodate those fleeing the fighting in Syria, a Turkish diplomat told AFP. Turkey has housed more than 80,000 refugees in camps along the border but these camps cannot take the new influx from the latest fighting. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-TURKEY-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A young Syrian girl wipes her tears after not being allowed entry to Turkey near the Syrian-Turkish border line on August 27, 2012. Some 9,000 Syrian refugees have massed on the country's northwest border with Turkey, waiting for more camps to be set up to accommodate those fleeing the fighting in Syria, a Turkish diplomat told AFP. Turkey has housed more than 80,000 refugees in camps along the border but these camps cannot take the new influx from the latest fighting. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Khaldoun al-Masri, 38, second from right, who fled Daraa with his wife and 6 children due to the ongoing bombing of the city by the Syrian forces, poses with the family at the Zaatari Syrian refugee camp in Mafraq, Jordan, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

  • Syrian children, who fled their homes with their families due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, wait to receive food, as they take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

  • Syrians wave revolutionary Syrian flags in front of the Syrian embassy during an anti-Assad protest, in Amman, Jordan, Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. The United Nations is nearly doubling its humanitarian appeal for Syria, seeking $347 million for people in need, including more than half a million children forced from their homes. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

  • Syrian girls wear head bands with the revolutionary Syrian flag during an anti-Assad protest in front of the Syrian embassy, in Amman, Jordan, Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. The United Nations is nearly doubling its humanitarian appeal for Syria, seeking $347 million for people in need, including more than half a million children forced from their homes. The Arabic writing on the headbands reads, "free Syria." (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

  • Syrian children, displaced with their family from Aleppo, due to government shelling, look out from a vehicle while crossing Bab Al-Salameh border heading to Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

  • In this Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 photo, a Syrian girl, who fled his home with her family due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, waits to be seen by a doctor outside a makeshift clinic, at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing where he and his family take refugee in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz. Despite rising international concern and new pledges of aid, the plight of Syria’s internally displaced is growing worse as fighting shows no signs of slackening and more head for the borders. Syria’s neighbors are reluctant to take in more refugees, leaving thousands, at least half young children, stranded on the borders with poor hygiene and insufficient food. At the Bab al-Salameh border crossing there are already an estimated 5,000 refugees hoping to cross into Turkey, which already hosts 80,000 Syrians and isn’t allowing more in for now. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

  • JORDAN-SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A Syrian refugee girl peeks through a hole in a tent at the Zaatri refugee camp, near the Jordanian border with Syria, on September 11, 2012. The number of refugees who have fled Syria has reached more than 250,000, the United Nations said, calling the humanitarian problems sparked by the conflict 'our biggest crisis'. In Jordan there are 85,197 registered refugees, with a further 35,961 awaiting processing. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • JORDAN-SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    A Syrian refugee woman gives her son medicine as they sit in a tent at the Zaatri refugee camp, near the Jordanian border with Syria, on September 11, 2012. The number of refugees who have fled Syria has reached more than 250,000, the United Nations said, calling the humanitarian problems sparked by the conflict 'our biggest crisis'. In Jordan there are 85,197 registered refugees, with a further 35,961 awaiting processing. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • JORDAN-SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    Syrian children stand behind clothes hung on a line amid tents at the Zaatri refugee camp, near the Jordanian border with Syria, on September 11, 2012. The number of refugees who have fled Syria has reached more than 250,000, the United Nations said, calling the humanitarian problems sparked by the conflict 'our biggest crisis'. In Jordan there are 85,197 registered refugees, with a further 35,961 awaiting processing. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • JORDAN-SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES

    Syrian refugee children walk amid tents at the Zaatri refugee camp, near the Jordanian border with Syria, on September 11, 2012. The number of refugees who have fled Syria has reached more than 250,000, the United Nations said, calling the humanitarian problems sparked by the conflict 'our biggest crisis'. In Jordan there are 85,197 registered refugees, with a further 35,961 awaiting processing. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO-DAILY LIFE

    A Syrian woman waits with her children outside a food distribution centre in Aleppo on September 13, 2012. Syrian fighter jets and tanks pounded the northern city of Aleppo, an AFP journalist said, as witnesses reported rebels advancing into the key contested central Midan district. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI (Photo credit should read MARCO LONGARI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Syrian children, who fled their homes due to government shelling, look on, as they take refuge with their families at Bab Al-Salameh crossing border, hoping to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DISPLACED

    Syrian children, whose families have fled clashes between Syrian rebels and regime forces in the outskirts of Damascus and the central city of Homs, stand behind a gate at a school where they have taken shelter in the neighbourhood of Mazzeh in the Syrian capital on September 16, 2012. The UN says more than 1.2 million Syrians, more than half of them children, have been displaced inside the country while an estimated 250,000 refugees have sought shelter in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. AFP PHOTO / LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DISPLACED

    Syrian children, whose families have fled clashes between Syrian rebels and regime forces in the northern province of Aleppo, sit at a school where they have taken shelter in the neighbourhood of Mashrou-Dumar in Damascus on September 16, 2012. The UN says more than 1.2 million Syrians, more than half of them children, have been displaced inside the country while an estimated 250,000 refugees have sought shelter in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. AFP PHOTO / LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DISPLACED

    Syrian children, whose families have fled clashes between Syrian rebels and regime forces in the outskirts of Damascus and the central city of Homs, sleep at a school where refugees have taken shelter in the neighbourhood of Mazzeh in the Syrian capital on September 16, 2012. The UN says more than 1.2 million Syrians, more than half of them children, have been displaced inside the country while an estimated 250,000 refugees have sought shelter in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. AFP PHOTO / LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DISPLACED

    Syrian children, whose families have fled clashes between Syrian rebels and regime forces in the outskirts of Damascus and the central city of Homs, lie on a mattress at a school where refugees have taken shelter in the neighbourhood of Mazzeh in the Syrian capital on September 16, 2012. The UN says more than 1.2 million Syrians, more than half of them children, have been displaced inside the country while an estimated 250,000 refugees have sought shelter in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. AFP PHOTO / LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Syrian children, who fled their homes with their families due to fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces, take refuge at the Samiya al-Makhzumi school in Mezzeh neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Many Syrians who have fled violence in their country are living near the border but outside the dozen camps, either staying with relatives, renting apartments, and in some cases take refuge at schools. The influx since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad began 18 months ago has raised concerns about sectarian tension and militant activity in the region. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

  • A Syrian woman, who fled her home with her children due to fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces, takes refuge at the Samiya al-Makhzumi school in Mezzeh neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Many Syrians who have fled violence in their country are living near the border but outside the dozen camps, either staying with relatives, renting apartments, and in some cases take refuge at schools. The influx since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad began 18 months ago has raised concerns about sectarian tension and militant activity in the region. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

  • TURKEY-SYRIA-CONFLICT-UN-REFUGEES

    Syrian children stand in a hall of the Altinozu refugee camp in Hatay city, located on the border with their violence-racked homeland, on September 18, 2012, during a visit of the International peace envoy for Syria. The Altinozu camp is one of the first refugee camps set up by Turkey soon after the unrest erupted in Syria mid-March 2011, which has already killed 20,000 according to UN figures and forced 250,000 to flee into neighbouring countries. AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • TURKEY-SYRIA-CONFLICT-UN-REFUGEES

    A Syrian refugee child stands behind a grill before International peace envoy for Syria arrives in the Altinozu camp in Hatay city, located on the border with their violence-racked homeland, on September 18, 2012. The Altinozu camp is one of the first refugee camps set up by Turkey soon after the unrest erupted in Syria mid-March 2011, which has already killed 20,000 according to UN figures and forced 250,000 to flee into neighbouring countries. AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • TURKEY-SYRIA-CONFLICT-UN-REFUGEES

    A Syrian refugee child stands behind a grill before International peace envoy for Syria arrives in the Altinozu camp in Hatay city, located on the border with their violence-racked homeland, on September 18, 2012. The Altinozu camp is one of the first refugee camps set up by Turkey soon after the unrest erupted in Syria mid-March 2011, which has already killed 20,000 according to UN figures and forced 250,000 to flee into neighbouring countries. AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • TURKEY-SYRIA-CONFLICT-UN-REFUGEES

    Syrian refugee children wait before International peace envoy for Syria arrives in the Altinozu camp in Hatay city, located on the border with their violence-racked homeland, on September 18, 2012. The Altinozu camp is one of the first refugee camps set up by Turkey soon after the unrest erupted in Syria mid-March 2011, which has already killed 20,000 according to UN figures and forced 250,000 to flee into neighbouring countries. AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Syrian refugee children, who fled their homes with their families due to fighting between rebels and government forces, draw at the UNHCR nursery, in Baalbek, east of Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. There are more than 65,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon living mostly in northern Lebanon and in the country’s eastern Bekaa region. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT

    A wounded Syrian boy cries as he is treated at a hospital after being shot by a sniper in the northern city of Aleppo on September 21, 2012. Syrian troops backed by helicopter gunships clashed with rebels near a barracks in Aleppo as battles broke out around a military airport elsewhere in the northern province, monitors said. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • FILE - In this Thursday, March 8, 2012 file photo, Ahmed, center, mourns his father Abdulaziz Abu Ahmed Khrer, who was killed by a Syrian Army sniper, during his funeral in Idlib, north Syria. A new report by the British charity Save the Children documents atrocities in Syria’s 18-month-old civil war that have left thousands of children dead and many more traumatized. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

  • Palestinian children hold candles during a solidarity march with Syria at the Jabaliya Refugee Camp, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Sept. 24 , 2012. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-CHILDREN

    TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MARIE ROUDANI A Syrian father and his children are pictured having breakfast in their apartment in the Aleppo neighbourhood of Izaa on September 26, 2012. Children are dying as the fighting in Aleppo rages and the civilian population suffers, but those children who stay on with their families say they are becoming accustomed to the daily bloodshed. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO

    A Syrian boy runs to cross a street where snipers take positions in the old city of Aleppo on September 27, 2012. Several thousand Syrian rebels launched what they said would be a decisive battle for control of the strategic northern city of Aleppo. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-CHILDREN

    TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MARIE ROUDANI Syrian children are pictured in an apartment in the Aleppo neighbourhood of Izaa on September 26, 2012. Children are dying as the fighting in Aleppo rages and the civilian population suffers, but those children who stay on with their families say they are becoming accustomed to the daily bloodshed. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT

    Syrian children line up to buy bread outside a bakery in the northern town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey, on September 29, 2012. More than 30,000 people have died in violence since the outbreak of a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad in March last year that grew into an insurgency, after dissent was met with brutal repression by the regime. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DAILY LIFE

    A Syrian boy looks on as the residents line up to buy bread outside a bakery in the northern town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey, on September 29, 2012. More than 30,000 people have died in violence since the outbreak of a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad in March last year that grew into an insurgency, after dissent was met with brutal repression by the regime. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-DAILY LIFE

    Syrians walk past a closed shop in the northern town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey, on September 29, 2012. More than 30,000 people have died in violence since the outbreak of a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad in March last year that grew into an insurgency, after dissent was met with brutal repression by the regime. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • ADDITION-SYRIA-CONFLICT

    ADDS DETAIL TO CAPTION- TO GO WITH A AFP STORY BY MARIE ROUDANI Syrian children walk past a Syrian government army tank, destroyed during fighting in mid July 2012, in the northern Syria town of Azaz, on September 29, 2012 .Huge photographs of burnt out tanks displayed on the walls of the police station in Azaz proudly proclaim the town's capture by Syrian rebels, but they conquered a community whose public buildings have been devastated, largely by their own arms. AFP PHOTO/MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Syrian children, who fled their homes with their families due to fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces, wash their hands as they take refuge at the Medhat Taky al-Deen school, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012. Many Syrians who fled violence in their country are either staying with relatives, renting apartments, or taking refuge at schools. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

  • SYRIA-CONFLICT-ALEPPO

    A mother holds her wounded daughter as she waits for treatment at the Dar al-Shifa hospital in the northern city of Aleppo, on October 1, 2012, as fighting in Syria's second largest city between rebel forces and government troops continues. According to the photographer, there were less than five doctors on call treating over 20 seriously injured adults and children in less than a 20-minute time period on this day. AFP PHOTO/ZAC BAILLIE (Photo credit should read ZAC BAILLIE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • A displaced Syrian woman and her granddaughter, only 15 days old, stand at the door of a school where almost 15 families from Homs are living, in Souran village, Syria, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Activists say government warplanes bombed a town northwest of Aleppo, killing at least 21 people including five children. One report says 30 people were killed in the town, just four miles from the border with Turkey. (AP Photo / Manu Brabo)