The United Nations' agency for child protection says 5.5 million Syrian children have been affected by the civil war, losing lives, limbs, parents, teachers, schools, homes and virtually every aspect of their childhood.

Unicef says Syrian children are paying the highest price in the conflict, which is now entering its fourth year.

It says more than 10,000 children have been killed in the fighting between President Bashar Assad's forces and rebels trying to oust him.

According to a Unicef report released today, more than half of the 2 million Syrian refugees - about 1.2 million - are children. Nearly half of those are under the age of five.

The report says another 3 million children have been displaced inside Syria because of the fighting.

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