The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, announced that in 2017, attacks on children living in war zones have reached a 'shocking level.' In a statement issued on Thursday, January 7, UNICEF said that attackers 'blatantly' disregard international laws designed to protect the vulnerable segments of human society. Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF's Director of Emergency Programs, stated in the announcement: 'Children in their homes, schools, and playgrounds... are targets of ruthless attacks and violence.' According to this UNICEF official, the world must not lose its sensitivity to these attacks and 'such brutality should not become a new norm.' UNICEF states that children have become frontline targets in global conflicts. According to UNICEF, children in these conflicts are used as human shields, facing death and disability. The organization emphasizes that forced recruitment, rape, forced marriage, slavery, and the abduction of children have become common tactics in global conflicts; from Syria and Yemen to Nigeria and Myanmar. UNICEF states that millions of other children are indirect victims of these conflicts, suffering from malnutrition, disease, and the shocks of war; children who are deprived of access to food, water, sanitation, and basic medical facilities. The UNICEF statement cites, for example, 850,000 children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who have been displaced from their homes, with nearly 350,000 suffering from acute malnutrition. UNICEF adds that in the thousand-day war in Yemen, at least 5,000 children have been killed or injured, and 11 million children are in need of urgent assistance. According to this report, Rohingya children in Myanmar suffer from 'shocking and widespread violence' and have been displaced from their land. In South Sudan, 19,000 child soldiers have been recruited by warring groups. In eastern Ukraine, 220,000 children face threats from landmines and other unexploded ordnance. The report indicates that in the Central African Republic, children are at risk of recruitment, rape, murder, and abduction. According to UNICEF, in northeastern Nigeria and Cameroon, Boko Haram has forced 135 children into suicide missions.
UNICEF: Attacks on Children in War Zones Have Reached a Shocking Level
UNICEF has reported a dramatic increase in attacks on children in war zones, highlighting the blatant disregard for international laws protecting vulnerable populations. The statement emphasizes the urgent need for global awareness and action to prevent such brutality from becoming normalized. Millions of children are suffering from the consequences of these conflicts, facing malnutrition, violence, and displacement.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
UNICEF reported a significant increase in attacks on children in war zones, emphasizing the violation of international laws meant to protect them. The organization highlighted various forms of violence and exploitation faced by children in conflicts around the world.
- 5,000 children have been killed or injured in the Yemen conflict.
- 19,000 child soldiers have been recruited in South Sudan.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Children are often the most affected by armed conflicts, facing violence, exploitation, and deprivation of basic needs. International laws exist to protect them, but violations are rampant.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%