UN Warns Children Face Unprecedented Danger Amid Record Global Conflicts
"This debate comes at a moment of exceptional relevance. Today, we face the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War. The number of civilians killed in these conflicts is the highest in decades," said Rosemary DiCarlo while addressing the UN Security Council, chaired by US first lady Melania Trump.
"Our reality is clear: when conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected," she added.
DiCarlo highlighted the immediate impact of recent operations in the Middle East, noting that schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman have closed or shifted to remote learning over the past two days to protect students. She also referenced reports from Iran suggesting that dozens of children may have died following a strike on an elementary school in Minab, with US authorities reportedly investigating the claims.
Globally, one in every five children—approximately 473 million—is currently living in or fleeing from conflict zones. DiCarlo warned that the number of verified grave violations against children rose by 25% from 2023 to 2024, while rape and other forms of sexual violence increased by 35%.
"In violent conflicts, schools can be one of the only safe spaces that protect children from recruitment, trafficking and exploitation,” she said. "Education in conflict zones is lifesaving and life-sustaining."
Despite this, DiCarlo cautioned that educational institutions, teachers, and related infrastructure continue to be deliberately targeted, further endangering children in these regions.
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