UNICEF Canada set to launch special Syria appeal amid debate over arming rebels

OTTAWA – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is about to launch a 48-hour emergency appeal for Syria.

The goal is to help the four million children affected by the two-year-old civil war that the UN says has killed 93,000 people.

The agency will start a special appeal to Canadians on Thursday asking for donations at unicef.ca to raise funds for immunizations, clean drinking water, education and psycho-social support to help children through the emotional trauma of the crisis.

The emergency fundraiser follows an unprecedented $4 billion appeal for Syria by the UN earlier this month, the largest in its history.

And it comes after this week’s G8 leaders’ summit, which affirmed the need for peace talks, but remained divided on the issue of whether or not to arm rebel groups — a measure Canada opposes for fear of aiding Islamic militants in their ranks.

UNICEF Canada President David Morley says the international angst over whether Syria’s rebels ought to be armed is diverting attention from the worsening humanitarian crisis, especially the damage being done to children.