Children and Armed Conflict

For brothers Osama*, 6, and Yousef*, 10, the day returning home after the end of 14 years of conflict in Syria should have been one of celebration - but instead it was one of tragedy

Israel’s aid restrictions mean that severe winter weather is cutting children in Gaza off from much-needed child protection and psychosocial support services, Save the Children said, as storms began again today

Syrians returning home full of hope in the year since the conflict ended said they are struggling to rebuild their lives amid destroyed infrastructure, limited access to schools and healthcare, and a collapsing economy, Save the Children said.

Israeli military operations have forced entire communities in areas of the northern West Bank into lockdown in their homes, keeping children out of school, jeopardising family incomes and increasing risk of physical violence and child detention from the Israeli military, Save the Children said.

Record numbers of attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine in the past two months have forced school closures and also disrupted the remote learning that children have relied upon for nearly four years of war, said Save the Children

One month after an agreed pause in hostilities in Gaza, children and families’ lives remain in limbo, with people unable to start repairs to homes without equipment and many scared to move due to unexploded ordinance or the fear of further airstrikes, Save the Children said.

From destroyed homes and playgrounds to dreams of becoming doctors, writers, and fashion designers, children in Gaza have expressed how two years of war have reshaped their lives and risk shattering their dreams in a series of drawings released today by Save the Children

Reports of an impending pause in hostilities in Gaza signals a hopeful reprieve on the horizon for families and children, but must be a turning point to secure a definitive ceasefire, said Save the Children.

The leaders of over 20 major aid groups in Gaza call for urgent intervention after a UN commission concluding, for the first time, that genocide is being committed.

The equivalent of about 150 classrooms of children have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the start of full-scale war

At least one Palestinian child has been killed every hour on average by Israeli forces in Gaza over nearly 23 months of war, with the number of children killed now surpassing 20,000, Save the Children said.

Children in frontline areas of Ukraine have lost 25% more days of learning due to the war than the world’s longest COVID-19 school closures, as a lack of bomb shelters means it is still too dangerous to for children to attend class, Save the Children said today.

Below is a statement from Save the Children International CEO Inger Ashing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, 27th August.

As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.

Fuel shortages in Gaza could cut off supplies of clean drinking water to about 44,000 children supported by Save the Children in a matter of days, increasing the risk of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery, with these children only a small number of those impacted by fuel running out.

Nearly 1,000 people have been killed so far this year in Sudan while seeking health care or visiting loved ones in hospital

130+ NGOs call for immediate action to end the deadly Israeli distribution scheme (including the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) in Gaza, revert to the existing UN-led coordination mechanisms, and lift the Israeli government’s blockade on aid and commercial supplies.

Over a dozen schools and kindergartens have reportedly been damaged in a deadly attack on Dnipro this morning, with at least two children injured when a train was shelled. The attack came just over 24 hours after a round of drone and missile strikes in Kyiv killed nine people including an 11 year old child, Save the Children said.

There must be no further delays in unlocking the frozen billions for children in Ukraine currently sitting with Chelsea Football Club, Save the Children said as the UK Government threatened to sue former club owner Roman Abramovich.

KYIV, 28 May, 2025 – Air raid sirens forced children in Ukraine to miss an average of one in every five school lessons during the past academic year that ends this week with pupils preparing the third consecutive summer under war, Save the Children said.

Thousands of families have arrived injured, traumatised and with no food or water in the town of Tawila after journeys of up to 70km (40 miles) on foot to flee attacks in Sudan’s Zamzam and Al Shouk camps, Save the Children said.

More children have been killed and injured over the past five days in Ukraine than during the entire month of January, said Save the Children as ceasefire talks come to a close in Saudi Arabia.

Almost 5,000 trained foster families are needed in Ukraine to help children currently living full-time in institutions move into safer family-based care arrangements, especially as the war leaves more children without parental care and at risk of being admitted into institutions, Save the Children said.

More than 46,000 children and teenagers are missing the start of their school year in Catatumbo region in Colombia, as a major escalation in violence has forced the government to close schools across 10 districts.

Children and families in Gaza have faced five attacks on schools-turned-shelters by Israeli forces in the first week of the new school year, with at least three children reported killed and scores of children injured, said Save the Children.

As Syria faces a critical turning point with cautious optimism for the future, the needs of children have never been higher with an urgent increase in funding required to meet immediate needs, Save the Children said.

New analysis, released on World Children’s Day, shows more than half a million babies have been born in Ukraine between February 2022 and August 2024.

Save the Children report reveals the number of grave violations committed against children in conflict reached highest level ever in 2023, with over 31,000 documented casesAn average of 31 children a day killed or maimedBiggest increases in crimes against children recorded in the occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan 473 million children – or 19% of the world’s child population – lived under the weight of war in 2023The cost of conflict skyrocketed to US $19.1 trillion last year, while investments in peace and conflict prevention remained low –with a $4 trillion gap needed to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Save the Children press release Gaza school airstrike 100 killed children

Aid agencies including Save the Children, who work on education in Sudan, warn that the country is on the brink of the worst education crisis in the world

Save the Children press release on how deaths by starvation and disease may top deaths by bombs in Gaza two months into the crisis

Joint aid agencies statement on failure of the UN Security Council to authorise resolution demanding humanitarian ceasefire

Millions of children are facing the worst global food crisis in decades. Here’s how we can help children fight for their childhood.

Drawing by Maram who is supported by Save the Children in a child-friendly space in Sudan

At least 23 children have been killed in an attack on Ituri camp in DRC

Children have taken photos of rubble and their homes in Syria

Save the Children is committed to protecting children in Sudan press release

Save the Children office looted in Sudan as country endures third day of fighting

Press release joint UNICEF Paris Principles child recruitment

Afghanistan school attack

Grim milestone reached in Ukraine: 1,000 children confirmed killed or injured

Syria: Seven children killed by landmines in two days

SURGE IN CONFLICT IN SUDAN’S BLUE NILE REGION KILLS TWO CHILDREN AND INJURES 10

Missile strikes on residential areas of Kyiv, Ukraine: world leaders can not look away

Response to the killing of four children in Idlib, Syria

Mozambique: Violence claims further lives in Cabo Delgado with children abducted by armed groups

Syria 11 years: Children still being bombed, facing hunger and malnutrition

Afghan family in Ukraine forced to flee conflict for second time in eight months

Calls for civilians to be protected as two children killed while fleeing Irpil, Ukraine

Yemen: shelling and airport attack lead to another unbearable day for children

‘The UN Secretary General must explain why he lets powerful parties get away with killing children and attacking schools and hospitals’: Save the Children