More 25% of children under 5 years old face severe food shortages, according to UNICEF. (Photo: Reuters)

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that by almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict in UNICEF's history — both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives.  

The percentage of the world’s children living in conflict zones has doubled—from around 10% in the 1990s to almost 19% today. By the end of 2023, 47.2 million children had been displaced due to conflict and violence, with trends in 2024 indicating additional displacement due to the intensification of conflicts, including in Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, the State of Palestine, and Sudan.

In the Gaza Strip, the ongoing conflict has been described as a “nightmare” for children. According to Rosalia Bollen, Communications Specialist for UNICEF, children in Gaza are struggling with cold, illness and psychological trauma. In Israel’s devastating military operation in Gaza in particular, at least 17,492 children have reportedly been killed in nearly 15 months of conflict that has reduced much of the enclave to rubble.