Syria’s brutal civil war has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters ever. Syria’s children have been paying the ultimate price. Thousands have lost their lives already, and millions more have been forced to leave their homes.

Diplomatic efforts have yielded some results. After the images of suffering caused by the chemical weapons attack made headlines and caused moral outrage around the world, Syria leapt to the top of domestic political agendas. As a result of international pressure, Assad handed over his chemical weapons.

But Syria’s children continue to lose their lives on a massive scale. Overwhelmingly it is conventional arms that are causing these deaths. And we are back to the situation that prevailed before the chemical attack: world leaders are unable to unite to decide what to do next. Why does the continued loss of young life on such a scale not trigger the same level of moral repugnance as did the chemical weapons attack?

Where does the world go from here? The horror will not stop unless concerted action is taken, but what options, if any, are left? How can we prevent an entire generation from being lost to the violence?