UN dubs 2024 ‘worst’ year for children in conflict zones

NEW YORK: The United Nations (UN), terming the year 2024 as the worst year for children of conflict zones, has emphasised that we cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars.

“By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record 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,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

“A child growing up in a conflict zone is far more likely to be out of school, malnourished, or forced from their home – too often repeatedly – compared to a child living in places of peace. This must not be the new normal. We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars”, she said.

A study released on Friday highlights severe violations of children’s rights, including killings, injuries, disrupted education, malnutrition, and missed vaccines.

Over 473 million children, 19 per cent of the global population, now live in conflict zones, with 47.2 million displaced by violence.

Conflicts from Palestine to Myanmar and Haiti to Sudan have created the highest number of crises since World War II. Thousands of children have died in Gaza and Ukraine, with the latter seeing more casualties in 2024 than in all of 2023.

Reports of sexual violence, particularly in Haiti, have surged, with a staggering 1,000 per cent increase in cases involving children.

EDUCATION DISRUPTED

More than 52 million children in conflict-affected countries are out of school. In Gaza and Sudan, many have missed over a year of education, while schools in Ukraine, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been destroyed or repurposed, leaving millions without learning opportunities.

HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

Conflict-driven hunger has left millions critically malnourished. Sudan’s North Darfur declared famine in 2024, marking the first such declaration since 2017. Over half a million people in five war-torn countries face the highest levels of food insecurity.

HEALTHCARE IN CRISIS

Around 40 per cent of unvaccinated children live in conflict zones, increasing their vulnerability to diseases like measles and polio. Mental health issues are rampant, with children exposed to violence and loss showing signs of depression, fear, and aggression.

The study underscores the urgent need for global action to protect children in conflict zones.

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