FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF BESLAN TRAGEDY MARKED TODAY
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| 12:00:05 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
UNICEF today marked the first anniversary of the Beslan school tragedy
by calling on all adults to shield children from war and conflict.
One year ago today, gunmen invaded School No. 1 in Beslan, Russian
Federation as it teemed with children and parents celebrating the
first day of the school year. Three days later, the siege ended with
more than 170 children and hundreds of adults dead.
The people of Beslan have rallied behind their children. And those
children are reaching out to each other across religious and ethnic
divides. “This community – scarred though it is – is charting a course
to recovery,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern
Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Maria Calivis.
“Today, we join the families of Beslan to honour those who died in
the siege of School No. 1,” said Calivis. “During those three days in
September 2004, the sanctity of childhood itself came under attack. It
plumbed the depths of inhumanity.”
The attack on School No. 1 and the tragic events that followed were
part of a rising tide of violence against children.
“It is time to take stock,” said Calivis. “We are not doing enough
for our children. We can do more.”