New Record Set for Child Casualties in Armed Conflicts; Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria Lead
A new United Nations report shows that more than 12,000 children were killed and injured in battles and armed clashes around the world last year, marking a new record for child casualties. Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen top this report.
According to the Associated Press, child casualties in 2018 were among more than 24,000 cases of “serious violations” of children’s rights documented in the UN report: from child soldiers to sexual abuse and violence, and repeated attacks on schools and hospitals.
Afghanistan was the worst place for children. The country, which topped the “children in armed conflicts” report with 3,062 documented cases of deaths and injuries. Children comprise nearly 30 percent of all civilian casualties in that country.
In Syria, airstrikes, mine explosions, bombardment with barrel bombs and cluster munitions, many of which are attributed to the Syrian government, resulted in 1,854 children being killed and injured.
The Syrian government and its main supporter in airstrikes, Russia, have denied conducting widespread airstrikes against civilians. However, even before the UN report, UNICEF, the UN children’s fund, had stated that the number of children killed in Syrian conflicts exceeded previous years and the number of attacks on schools and hospitals has increased.
In Yemen, at least 1,689 children have been killed and injured during ground battles and strikes by the Saudi-led coalition.
The Riyadh-led coalition faces severe criticism in this regard. The UN director at the Human Rights Watch organization told the Associated Press that “the Saudi coalition has committed horrific acts of violence against children in Yemen since 2015, and there is no evidence that it is trying to improve the situation.”
However, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations told Reuters that the recent report refers to the coalition’s efforts to protect children’s security in the Yemen war, and from Riyadh’s perspective “every child’s life is precious.” Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, meanwhile, questioned the sources and information that led to the report’s preparation and said the figures are “exaggerated.”
Reuters had previously reported that Tehran-backed Houthis, alongside pro-government militias supported by Saudi Arabia, are also on this list.
According to the “Children in Armed Conflicts” report, last year, 59 Palestinian children were killed and more than 2,750 other children were injured. During the same period, six Israeli children were also injured.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has expressed deep concern about the increase in injuries caused by tear gas inhalation during conflicts.
In addition to these, the United Nations has also expressed concern about the increasing attacks on schools and hospitals.
Last year, at least 225 attacks on schools and aid centers in Syria were recorded, the highest number since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011. In Afghanistan, schools and humanitarian aid centers have also been targeted more than 250 times.
The United Nations report on children in armed conflicts has been prepared and submitted to the Security Council since 2005 at the request of the UN Security Council. Last year’s figures are the worst since this report began being presented.
Source: Radio Farda
