The UN children’s agency UNICEF said on Saturday that it is estimated that more children are living in conflict areas or being forcibly displaced than ever before.
UNICEF estimates that more than 473 million children worldwide – one in six – live in areas affected by conflict.
This has resulted in record numbers of children being killed, injured or having their rights violated.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, “On almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years for children in conflict in UNICEF’s history – both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives. “
“A child growing up in a conflict zone is far more likely to be out of school, malnourished, or forced from their home – often repeatedly – than a child growing up in a place of peace.”
Where are children suffering because of wars?
The UN verified 32,990 serious rights violations against 22,557 children in 2023 and expects the figure to be even higher in 2024.
UNICEF said thousands of Palestinian children were killed this year amid Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza. Israel says it is fighting the militant group Hamas there.
In Ukraine, the UN confirmed more child casualties in the first nine months of 2024 than in all of 2023.
The agency also said incidents of sexual violence against children have increased by 1,000% in Haiti this year.
In Sudan, like Gaza, a large proportion of children have not been able to attend school for more than a year.
Children are also missing out on vital vaccinations and other health care due to wars. UNICEF said about 40% of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children live in countries affected by conflict, making them vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases such as measles or polio, which was recently found in Gaza for the first time in 25 years. .
“Children in war zones face a daily struggle to survive that deprives them of a childhood,” Russell said.
“Their schools are bombed, homes destroyed, and families torn apart. They lose not only their safety and access to basic life-sustaining needs, but also the chance to play, learn, and simply be kids. Let’s lose.”
UNICEF: Children should not be ‘collateral damage’ in ‘uncontrolled wars’
UNICEF also highlighted the large number of children killed, injured or having their rights violated due to conflicts in Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar.
It reiterated its call on all parties to end the suffering of children and ensure their rights in accordance with international humanitarian obligations.
“We cannot allow a generation of children to suffer additional harm from the world’s uncontrolled wars,” Russell said.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
