Over 52 Million Children Out Of School In Conflict Zones, Gaza & Sudan Worst Affected: UNICEF – News18

Last Updated:December 30, 2024, 13:57 IST

More than 52 million children in conflict-affected countries are not attending school, with many in Gaza and Sudan missing over a year of education.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has declared 2024 one of the worst years in its history for children living in conflict areas. Millions of children have faced severe rights violations, including being killed, injured, displaced, out of school, and critically malnourished.

Millions Of Children Affected By Violence

According to UNICEF, reported cases of sexual violence against children in Haiti have surged by 1,000% this year. During armed conflicts, children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence and rights violations.

An estimated 473 million children, around one in six globally, are living in conflict zones, with nearly 47.2 million displaced by violence. Alarmingly, the first nine months of 2024 recorded more child casualties than the entire year of 2023, highlighting escalating violence.

“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,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

She further stated: “A child growing up in a conflict zone is far more likely to be out of school, malnourished, or forced from their home—often repeatedly—compared to a child living in places of peace. This must not become the new normal. We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world’s unchecked wars.”

Education Disrupted

Conflicts have severely impacted children’s access to education. Over 52 million children in conflict-affected countries are out of school. In Gaza and Sudan, many children have missed more than a year of education. In nations like Ukraine, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, schools have been damaged, destroyed, or used for non-educational purposes, leaving millions without access to learning.

Rising Malnutrition And Hunger

Malnutrition among children in conflict zones has reached alarming levels. Ongoing violence disrupts food supplies and humanitarian aid, worsening hunger in hotspots like Sudan, where famine was declared in North Darfur in 2024—the first since 2017. More than half a million people across five conflict-affected countries face the most extreme levels of food insecurity.

ALSO READ: BPSC Exam Protest: Students Call For Bihar Bandh Demanding Cancellation Of 70th CCE Exam

Healthcare At Risk

Around 40% of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children are in conflict zones, where they are highly vulnerable to diseases such as measles and polio. Disruptions to healthcare access in these areas further expose children to outbreaks and deprive them of essential medical services.

The impact of conflict on children’s mental health is equally severe. Many struggle with depression, nightmares, aggressive behaviour, and fear due to exposure to violence, destruction, and the loss of loved ones.