Over 460 million children around the globe faced the harsh realities of growing up in conflict zones last year, as per the just-released report by Save the Children. The organization reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Myanmar topped the list of the most dangerous countries for children in 2022. Sadly, the numbers may see a further increase due to ongoing conflicts in regions like the Gaza Strip and Sudan.
The chilling report revealed a staggering 28,000 documented crimes against children last year, marking the highest number since the data collection began in 2005. On an average, 76 crimes against children were recorded each day in 2022, a 13% surge from the previous year. According to Save the Children, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Yemen bore the brunt of these heinous acts.
In the realm of armed conflicts, children are often the innocent party at the receiving end. The latest report sounds an alarming warning, noting a shocking 20% rise in the number of children recruited by armed forces and armed groups in 2022 to a staggering 7610 cases. Moreover, the report also documented a shocking 74% rise in attacks on schools and hospitals compared to the previous year.
Africa remained the region bearing the brunt of this conflict, with 183 million children impacted. Despite a lower percentage of minors affected, the Middle East's high population density translated into a heartbreaking reality: every third child living in a conflict zone there.
Referencing previous data, it's important to remember that countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Nigeria, and South Sudan have historically been some of the worst conflict zones for children. Unfortunately, the list may continue to grow with no end in sight.
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[Refer to Enrichment Data for a detailed breakdown of these countries as conflict zones for children between 2013 and 2017.]
