New York, Jan. 26 -- The brutal fighting in Syria continues to exact a terrible toll on children, with at least 18, including a one-year-old killed in incidents involving explosive weapons and unexploded ordnance, since 1 January, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Sunday. At least 15 others were wounded.

"Children and families in Syria have suffered so much over the past decade, with still no end in sight," Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director said in a statement.

"With each week, the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic is making it harder for families to survive and provide even basic education and protection for their children," she added.

Families hit hard by fighting, poverty and severe weather are reeling under fuel shortages ...