Daud Olatunji
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has labeled 2024 as the worst year for children living in conflict zones, citing devastating impacts on their lives globally.
In a statement released on its website, UNICEF revealed that armed conflicts had reached unprecedented levels of devastation, with record numbers of children being displaced, deprived of education, malnourished, and subjected to violence.
Over 473 million children—nearly one in six globally—were reported to be living in conflict-affected areas by the end of 2024, the highest since World War II.
The percentage of children in such zones has doubled from 10 percent in the 1990s to almost 19 percent .
According to UNICEF, 47.2 million children were displaced by conflict and violence in 2023, with 2024 witnessing further displacement due to intensified conflicts in regions like Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, the State of Palestine, and Sudan.
Children account for 40 percent of refugee populations globally and almost half of all internally displaced persons.
The organization recorded 32,990 grave violations against children in 2023, a figure expected to rise in 2024.
In Gaza and Ukraine, child casualties surpassed those recorded in the entire year of 2023 during just the first nine months of 2024.
“By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict zones,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Conflicts disrupted the education of over 52 million children globally, with schools destroyed or rendered unsafe. Malnutrition has soared in conflict zones as violence disrupts food systems and humanitarian access.
Healthcare has also been severely impacted, with 40 percent of unvaccinated children residing in conflict-affected countries.
These children are especially vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases such as measles and polio.
UNICEF highlighted a shocking 1,000 percent increase in sexual violence against children in Haiti in 2024.
Children with disabilities were disproportionately exposed to violence and abuse in conflict settings.
Additionally, the mental health toll on children has been significant, manifesting in depression, aggression, nightmares, and other psychological effects caused by exposure to violence, destruction, and loss.
Russell emphasized the urgent need for global intervention, stating, “Children in war zones face a daily struggle for survival that deprives them of a childhood.
The world is failing these children. As we look towards 2025, we must do more to turn the tide and save and improve their lives.”
UNICEF called on world leaders and humanitarian organizations to prioritize the protection of children in conflict zones, ensuring their access to education, healthcare, and other basic necessities.
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