A girl, identified as Nour al-Sham Kaytoon from al-Alani village in Salqin city in Idlib governorate, was died on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, as a result of a gunshot wound caused by mishandling a firearm inside her family’s house in al-Alani village.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) from reliable local sources, Nour al-Sham was shot by another child—her cousin—while he was playing with a firearm that was present in the home.
SNHR notes that the widespread presence of weapons in residential areas poses a significant risk to the lives of civilians, particularly children, who may interact with these weapons without understanding the dangers they pose. SNHR stresses that such incidents highlight the urgent need for preventive measures to protect civilians from the consequences of weapons being present in environments unfit for them. These measures include awareness campaigns, secure storage, and tighter control over the circulation of firearms.
SNHR also urges the relevant authorities, including the Syrian transitional government, to work toward strengthening the regulation and containment of weapons within official institutions, and to enact appropriate legislation governing possession and preventing uncontrolled proliferation. These steps would help reduce risks and enhance protection for the most vulnerable groups – especially children.
