25% rise in violence against children in conflict zones in 2024; Gaza tops list: UN report

Violence against children trapped in armed conflicts reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024, with a staggering 25% surge in grave violations compared to the previous year, according to a United Nations report released Thursday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres' annual report on Children in Armed Conflict points towards escalating brutality in conflict zones.
'Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks,' Guterres said, citing the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the systematic exploitation of children for combat roles.
The report confirmed 41,370 grave violations against minors — 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 from earlier years that were verified during the year. These violations include killing, maiming, child recruitment, abduction, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian aid.
The occupied Palestinian territories saw the highest number of verified violations.
The UN attributed 7,188 grave violations to Israeli forces, including the killing of 1,259 Palestinian children and injuries to 941 others in Gaza.
'I am appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel,' Guterres said, urging Israel to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
Amid calls for accountability, the UN kept Israeli forces on its blacklist for a second consecutive year. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the current conflict, also remained on the list, reported AP.
Aside from Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti were among the worst-hit regions:
The UN also continued to list Russian forces and affiliated armed groups for grave violations in Ukraine.
Guterres expressed alarm at 1,914 violations affecting 673 Ukrainian children in 2024, including the killing of 94 children, injury to 577, and attacks on 559 schools and 303 hospitals.
Virginia Gamba, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said: 'The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball — but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings — should keep all of us awake at night.'
(With inputs from AP)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

20 minutes ago

• The Hindu

Left stages protest in Ballari condemning attacks on Palestine and Iran

On the occasion of National Communal Harmony Day, various Left parties staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Ballari, condemning the 'imperialist aggression' against Palestine and Iran. The demonstration strongly denounced the alleged massacre being carried out by Israel in Gaza with the support of the United States, as well as the recent bombing of Iran. Protesters urged the Indian government to oppose the war-mongering policies of the United States and Israel and to adopt an unequivocal anti-war stance. Addressing the gathering, district secretary of SUCI(C) S. Radhakrishna Upadhya said that creating conflict zones across the globe to sell arms and increase profits is the business model of American capitalists. 'U.S. President Donald Trump represents these capitalist interests. Facing an economic crisis, the United States seeks revival through artificial means like war. To counter this war-hungry agenda of America, Israel and other imperialist nations, global anti-war and workers movements must be intensified to push back against imperialist designs,' he said. CPI(M) district secretary Satyababu stated that Israel, emboldened by U.S. support, has been conducting barbaric bombing campaigns on Gaza for the past two years, violating ceasefire agreements. 'Schools, hospitals, and mosques have been targeted and over 55,000 Palestinian civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed. Now, it has launched airstrikes on Iran, killing several 'key figures',' he said. Veteran trade union leader T.G. Vitthal remarked that the BJP-led Union government aligned itself with the interests of the U.S. and Israel, thereby undermining India's anti-imperialist legacy rooted in the freedom movement. Many labour leaders, including Pramod, A. Devadas, Chandra Kumari, Guru Murthy, Somashekhar Gowda, Shanta, Nagarathna and Hanumappa, participated in the agitation.

NDTV

20 minutes ago

• NDTV

Palestine Activists Break Into UK's Largest Air Base, Deface 2 Aircraft

Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the UK's largest air force base in southeast England and vandalised two planes in an act condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "disgraceful" on Friday. "The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful," Starmer said on X after campaign group Palestine Action posted a video claiming to show its activist breaking into the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. In the video posted on X, the activists appear to spray a plane with red paint while roaming the base on scooters. "Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircraft," claimed the group, which has been behind several stunts protesting the UK's role in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. "We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating," the Ministry of Defence said. Local police said they launched an investigation into reports of "criminal damage" and a break-in. RAF Brize Norton serves as a hub for air-to-air refuelling forces and supports overseas operations, including flights to the RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Britain's largest air force base in the Middle East. According to British media, one of the planes vandalised was an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker. "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets," Palestine Action said in a statement. "Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East." Last month, the group claimed responsibility for vandalising a US military aircraft in Ireland. Starmer's Labour government suspended around 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel last September, citing a "risk" they could be used in violations of international law. But the UK continues to supply components for F-35 fighter jets to a global pool that Israel is able to access. Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it is committing a genocide in Gaza during its 20-month-long military campaign following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.

New Indian Express

20 minutes ago

• New Indian Express

Veteran journalist in Iran from Lucknow providentially 'escapes' an attack; many families in the city fear for stranded ones

LUCKNOW: With Israel intensifying missile strikes on Iran amid escalating tensions, families in Lucknow are having sleepless nights, fearing for their loved ones stranded in the war-hit nation. Recently, a veteran journalist, Raavish Zaidi, had a providential escape when an Israeli missile struck his news channel's headquarters -- just 20 seconds after he stepped out of the building. Sharing his agony, Raavish Zaidi's father, Amir Abbas Zaidi said his son could not attend his mother's last rites as she passed away just six days back in Lucknow. 'He is currently reporting from a war zone. Raavish has been in Iran for the last 15 years working as a TV journalist for the government news channel. Due to the ongoing conflict between Iran ad Israel, he could not come home,' says the worried father. 'I was continuously calling my son to inform him about his mother's demise, but the call wasn't connecting. Late in the evening, I somehow managed to speak to one of his friends. I was told that Israel had launched a missile attack on his news channel's office in Iran," said Zaidi. "The entire office was destroyed. The anchor had to leave the live show and run away. After hearing this, I was very anxious. However, later I was told that my son is safe. The next day, when I spoke to him, he told me that he had left the office just 20 seconds before the attack,' Zaidi added. Raavish Zaidi, currently working with the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), survived a missile attack that struck his office in Iran during a live telecast. The anchor presenting the news was seen fleeing mid-broadcast, and the footage quickly went viral across social media platforms.