The year 2024 has been marked as one of the worst years in UNICEF’s history for children affected by armed conflicts. According to a recent review by UNICEF, the impact of global conflicts on children has reached unprecedented levels, with more children than ever living in conflict zones or being forcibly displaced due to violence.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the alarming statistics, noting that over 473 million children—more than one in six globally—now live in areas affected by conflict. This year has seen a record number of children having their rights violated, including being killed, injured, out of school, missing life-saving vaccines, and suffering from critical malnutrition.
The report underscores that conflict drives approximately 80 percent of all humanitarian needs worldwide, disrupting access to essentials such as safe water, food, and healthcare. The number of children displaced due to conflict and violence has continued to rise, with significant increases in displacement observed in regions like Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, the State of Palestine, and Sudan.
The situation for women and girls is particularly concerning, with widespread reports of rape and sexual violence in conflict settings. In Haiti alone, there has been a 1,000 percent increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against children this year.
Education has also been severely disrupted, with more than 52 million children in conflict-affected countries estimated to be out of school. The destruction of educational infrastructure and insecurity near schools have left millions of children without access to learning.
Malnutrition among children in conflict zones has reached alarming levels, with conflict and armed violence being primary drivers of hunger. In Sudan, famine conditions were determined in North Darfur, marking the first famine determination since 2017.
UNICEF is calling for all parties to conflict, and those with influence over them, to take decisive action to end the suffering of children, ensure their rights are upheld, and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. As the world looks towards 2025, there is an urgent need to turn the tide and save the lives of children affected by conflict.