2024: A Devastating Year for Children in Conflict, Says UNICEF.
New York:
UNICEF has called 2024 one of the worst years in its history for children living in conflict zones, with devastating consequences for millions worldwide. The global organization reports that more children than ever are affected by violence, displacement, and severe rights violations, as conflicts across the globe reach record levels.
According to UNICEF’s review of data and trends, over 473 million children—more than one in six children globally—now live in conflict-affected areas. This marks an alarming rise in the percentage of children living in conflict zones, which has doubled since the 1990s. More than 47 million children have been displaced due to violence, and this number is expected to increase as conflicts continue to intensify in regions like Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized that 2024 has seen unprecedented harm to children, including record numbers of killings, injuries, and violations of rights. The organization verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 2023, with 2024 on track to surpass these numbers. “This must not be the new normal. We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars,” Russell stated.
Education has been severely disrupted, with more than 52 million children out of school in conflict zones, many facing the destruction of educational infrastructure. Malnutrition has reached alarming levels, with conflict driving hunger in countries like Sudan, where famine conditions are present. Access to healthcare is also critically limited, leaving millions of children vulnerable to diseases like measles and polio.
The mental health impact on children is equally dire, with many showing signs of depression, fear, and aggression as they cope with the trauma of violence, loss, and displacement.
In response, UNICEF is calling for urgent action to end the suffering of children in conflict, urging all parties involved to adhere to international humanitarian law and ensure that children’s rights are upheld. “As we look towards 2025, we must do more to turn the tide and improve the lives of children in conflict,” Russell concluded.
