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Syrian Conflict Has Adverse Effects on Children, Aid Group Says


Syrian refugee children wait for the arrival of U.N.-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at their camp in the Turkish border town of Altinozu in Hatay province September 18, 2012.
Syrian refugee children wait for the arrival of U.N.-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at their camp in the Turkish border town of Altinozu in Hatay province September 18, 2012.
Aid group Save the Children is warning about the effects of the conflict in Syria on the nation's children, saying they have been the target of attacks and witnessed the deaths of family members.

The head of the organization says "horrific acts of violence" are being committed against Syrian children, and that they need special care to help them recover. The group is also calling on the United Nations to better document rights violations against children.

U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi painted a bleak picture of the crisis Monday, telling reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council that "the situation in Syria is very bad and getting worse."

Brahimi also reiterated previous comments that the conflict is a threat to both the region and the world. He added that while he has some ideas on how to lessen the crisis, he has yet to formulate a plan that will lead to a solution.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said outside the briefing Monday that the effects of the conflict on neighboring countries are a concern, and that it is necessary for the Syrian opposition to unite.

"We have to work with all we can and we have to do our utmost to finish the violence in Syria," Westerwelle said. "But on the other hand it is also important to be wise, that we do not run into a conflagration in the whole region."

The briefing came during another day of violence in Syria.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 140 people were killed across Syria on Monday.
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