2024: Worst Year For Child Casualties Says UNICEF

NEW DELHI, (ANI) – A recent UNICEF study reveals that an estimated 473 million children—more than one in six globally—are living in conflict zones. The report, released on December 28, underscores the alarming rise in global conflicts, citing regions such as Palestine, Myanmar, Haiti, and Sudan as hotspots. According to UNICEF, the world is now experiencing the highest number of conflicts since World War II.

Impact on Children

The report states that 19% of the world’s children are living in conflict zones, with 47.2 million displaced due to violence. Tragically, child casualties during the first nine months of 2024 have already surpassed those in all of 2023. Thousands of children were killed or injured in ongoing conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine.

In Gaza alone, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 17,492 children over the past 15 months, according to various reports.

A Grim Year for Children

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described 2024 as one of the worst years on record for children in conflict zones, both in terms of the number affected and the severity of the impact on their lives.

“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,” Russell stated.

She highlighted that children in conflict zones are significantly more likely to experience severe disruptions, including being out of school, malnourishment, and repeated displacement.

“This must not be the new normal,” Russell warned. “We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars.”

Call to Action

UNICEF is urging the global community to prioritize the protection of children and prevent them from becoming lifelong victims of conflict. Russell emphasized the need for decisive action to ensure that future generations do not grow up amidst violence and instability.