Children Come Under Attack in Conflict Zones

Children in conflict zones around the world have come under attack at a shocking scale throughout the year, UNICEF has warned.

It adds that the parties to conflicts are blatantly disregarding international laws designed to protect the most vulnerable.

“Children are being targeted and exposed to attacks and brutal violence in their homes, schools and playgrounds,” said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes. “As these attacks continue year after year, we cannot become numb. Such brutality cannot be the new normal.”

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In conflicts around the world, children have become frontline targets, used as human shields, killed, maimed and recruited to fight. Rape, forced marriage, abduction and enslavement have become standard tactics in conflicts from Iraq, Syria and Yemen, to Nigeria, South Sudan and Myanmar.

In some contexts, according to UNICEF, children abducted by extremist groups experience abuse yet again upon release when they are detained by security forces.

Millions more children are paying an indirect price for these conflicts, suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma as basic services – including access to food, water, sanitation and health – are denied, damaged or destroyed in the fighting.

UNICEF works with its partners to provide the most vulnerable children with health, nutrition, education and child protection services.

Photo / Video courtesy: UNICEF