UNICEF: 2024 a Catastrophic Year for Children in War Zones

Source: http://www.msn.com

UNICEF has declared 2024 as one of the most devastating years for children living in conflict zones, with millions of young lives caught in the crossfire of escalating global crises. From the Middle East to Myanmar, Haiti, and Sudan, nearly 19% of the world’s children — more than 473 million — are currently living in conflict-affected areas, according to the latest report from the United Nations agency.

The situation is dire. Over 47.2 million children have been displaced by violence, and thousands more have been killed or injured, particularly in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. The UN recorded more child casualties in the first nine months of 2024 than in all of 2023 combined, a grim indicator of the escalating violence.

Beyond the immediate threat to their lives, children are facing a severe erosion of their basic rights. Education has been severely disrupted, with more than 52 million children in conflict-affected areas unable to attend school. In places like Gaza and Sudan, children have lost more than a year of learning due to violence and instability. In Ukraine, Syria, and parts of Africa, schools have been destroyed, further depriving children of their right to an education.

The report also highlights the growing concern over malnutrition in conflict zones. With food systems disrupted and humanitarian access restricted, millions of children are at risk of severe malnutrition. In Sudan, famine conditions have already been declared in parts of North Darfur — the first such declaration since 2017.

Read more of the story here: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/unicef-2024-one-of-the-worst-years-for-children-in-conflict-zones/

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