The year 2024 marked one of the most devastating periods for children in conflict zones, according to UNICEF’s latest data. Over 473 million children, or nearly one in six globally, live in conflict-affected areas, doubling the percentage since the 1990s. An estimated 47.2 million children were displaced by conflict and violence by the end of 2023, with trends indicating further increases in 2024.
Key impacts include disrupted education for 52 million children, malnutrition for over half a million people in extreme conditions (IPC Phase 5), and millions without critical vaccines, particularly in conflict-affected regions where 40% of unvaccinated children live. Grave violations reached a record 32,990 cases involving 22,557 children in 2023, with upward trends noted in Gaza and Ukraine in 2024.
UNICEF highlights the urgent need for adherence to international humanitarian law to mitigate the ongoing violations against children in armed conflicts.