Recently, we often hear news about children being killed in conflicts. How many children are actually dying?
According to the United Nations, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, 11,649 children were killed (5,301) and maimed (6,348) in conflicts around the world in 2023.
Nearly 40% (2,051) of the children confirmed to have been killed were in the Gaza Strip between October 7 and December 31, 2023.
The below figure shows the number of children killed per year over the past five years.
The number of children killed in 2023 increased by approximately 1.8 times compared to 2022.
In the Gaza Strip, more than 14,000 children have been killed since the start of the war, and an estimated 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated (as of 9 May 2024).
As of June 2024, a total of 37,396 people, including adults, have been killed there. In addition to these direct deaths caused by violence during the conflict, we must not forget the indirect deaths.
Based on data from recent conflicts, the indirect death toll is estimated to be between 3ー15 times the direct death toll, meaning the death toll of adults and children in the Gaza Strip is likely much higher than the recorded number of killings.
It’s horrifying that such terrible things are happening to children. Why don’t the adults who run the world do more to protect children?
How do Humanitarian Laws talk about children being killed and injured in war?
Killing and maiming of children is one of six grave violations against children identified by the United Nations Security Council.
It is a serious breach of:
– The Geneva Conventions;
– The Convention on the Rights of the Child;
– Customary International Humanitarian Law; and
– Other international/national humanitarian laws.
For example, Rule 135 of Customary International Humanitarian Law mentions special respect and protection for children in international/non-international armed conflict.
Children should be able to access health care, food, and education even at the time of war, and torturing, abusing, and neglecting children are strongly prohibited.
In The Rome Statute of International Criminal Court, Article 6 and Article 7 refer to Genocide and Crimes against humanity (e.g., murder, forcible transfer of population, and imprisonment).
Children may be particularly targeted for genocide because they represent the future of their country/ethnicity. They are also more likely to be direct victims of crimes against humanity.
War crimes are listed in Article 8 of the Rome Statute, including wilful killing, and intentional attacks against the civilian population and civilian objects.
Children are severely affected by all forms of war crimes. Intentional starvation and deliberate attacks against schools, medical facilities, and humanitarian organisations cause even greater harm to children.
I thought genocide was just something that we read about only in history books. But many war crimes are still happening today.
I feel that the world is ignoring morality and humanity, and has less respect for humanitarian laws. Humanity and human rights should be respected and should be equal for everyone.
How does the war affect child health?
The child health-related issue during war is not only death but varies from injuries to diseases.
The major ones are listed below:
- Death
- Injury (e.g., penetrating injuries, blunt trauma, and burns)
- Disability
- Acute respiratory infections
- Diarrhea
- Skin diseases
- Malnutrition
- Psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorder)
- Being tortured, physically and sexually abused, neglected
- Vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., polio)
The main causes of physical injuries are gunfire, explosions, and building collapses, with studies showing that 3-18% of children injured by these events die.
Younger children who experience trauma are at higher risk of dying than older children.
One study conducted in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina found that 40% of children injured in war suffered permanent disabilities.
This data tells us that health problems are not only short-term issues for children but lifelong problems.
During the war, we tend to talk about physical trauma, but children also face internal diseases and mental health issues.
Respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and fever are generally common among children in any country, and many of these health issues could be resolved with proper medical care, good hygiene, and good nutrition. However, children in war have limited access to health care, food, water, and proper sanitation. As a result, these treatable diseases can kill children.
It breaks my heart to think of so many health problems that children are facing. Children should not have to suffer this way because of wars waged by adults. I hope that world leaders will stop these horrific wars immediately, and allow children to live a life like a child should.
We will talk about mental health and vaccine-related diseases in conflict another time…
References
– United Nations. Warned of ‘Shocking’ Death Toll of Children in Conflicts, Third Committee Urges Steps to Address ‘Unprecedented’ Surge in Grave Offenses. 10 October 2024. https://press.un.org/en/2024/gashc4409.doc.htm
– United Nations, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Report of the Secretary-General on Children and armed conflict. 2020-2024. https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/virtual-library/?wpv-document-type%5B%5D=annual-reports&wpv_aux_current_post_id=2680&wpv_aux_parent_post_id=2680&wpv_view_count=110467
– Save the Children. World more dangerous than ever for children with crimes in conflict at highest level in 2023. 31 October 2024. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/world-more-dangerous-ever-children-crimes-conflict-highest-level-2023
– Unicef. Children in Gaza need life-saving support https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support
– Le Monde Diplomatique. Gaza’s horrifying death toll. September 2024 https://mondediplo.com/2024/09/09gaza-box
– Khatib, Rasha et al. Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential. The Lancet, Volume 404, Issue 10449, 237 – 238
– Unicef. Six grave violations against children in times of war. How children have become frontline targets in armed conflicts. 30 May 2024. https://www.unicef.org/children-under-attack/six-grave-violations-against-children
– United Nations. There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations, possible atrocity crimes in Gaza – UN Human Rights Chief. 08 November 2024. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/ohchr-press-release-report-08nov24/
– United Nations. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Protecting Children During Armed Conflict. https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/publications/SixgraveviolationsBooklet.pdf
– Customary International Humanitarian Law. Rule 135, Children. https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule135
– International Criminal Court. Office of the prosecutor. Policy on Children. December 2023. https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2023-12/2023-policy-children-en-web.pdf
– International Criminal Court. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/NR/rdonlyres/ADD16852-AEE9-4757-ABE7-9CDC7CF02886/283503/RomeStatutEng1.pdf
– Kadir A, Shenoda S, Goldhagen J. Effects of armed conflict on child health and development: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 16;14(1):e0210071. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210071
