More children than ever are living in conflict zones or have been displaced by violence, according to UNICEF, the UN children’s rights organization, based on the most recent data. These figures indicate that over 473 million children reside in conflict areas, equivalent to one in six children globally.
The Global Peace Index, one of the sources, reports that there have not been this many conflicts since World War II. Since the 1990s, the proportion of children living in conflict zones has risen from about 10 percent to 19 percent.
UNICEF expects this number to further increase. By the end of 2023, approximately 47.2 million children were displaced due to conflicts and violence, with preliminary figures for 2024 indicating a further rise.
This is attributed to escalating violence in places such as Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, the Middle East, and Sudan. In Gaza alone, thousands of children have been killed or injured.
In Ukraine, the first nine months of 2024 saw more child casualties than the entire year of 2023. “By nearly every measure, 2024 was one of the worst years for children in conflict zones in UNICEF’s 78-year history,” says Catherine Russell, the organization’s executive director.
She highlights the risks children face, such as missing education, malnutrition, and displacement. “This must not become the new normal.”
Source: NOS