They were among more than 2,600 people reported killed so far in the earthquake that struck opposition-held parts of northern Syria. A total of over 3,500 were killed across Syria and around 30,000 in Turkey.
Children’s education in Syria was already badly affected by the ongoing war since 2011. For years, schools were regularly closed due to fighting, mortar fire by rebel groups or airstrikes by the Syrian government or Russia.
The earthquake destroyed more than 115 schools in Syria and damaged hundreds more, according to a UN update published on Saturday.
More than 100 others were being used as temporary shelters to host thousands of people displaced by the quake, causing apartment blocks and even small rural houses to collapse on the heads of residents.
