A new report by Save the Children warns that 2024 saw the highest-ever number of children killed or injured by explosive weapons, as modern wars increasingly hit crowded cities.
According to UN data cited by the UK-based charity, nearly 12,000 children were harmed or killed in conflicts worldwide last year, marking a 42% surge compared to 2020 and the worst figures since tracking began in 2006.
In past conflicts, child deaths were mainly linked to malnutrition, disease, and collapsing healthcare systems. But recent wars—including those in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine—now frequently target or impact schools, hospitals, and residential blocks, trapping children in deadly frontline zones.
The report reveals that over 70% of child casualties in 2024 were caused by explosive weapons such as missiles, shells, and drones—an alarming jump from the previous four-year average of 59%.
Save the Children’s senior advisor Narmina Strishenets said the data shows a “deliberate destruction of childhood”, urging global action to protect young lives.
#SaveTheChildren #ChildCasualties #GlobalConflicts #HumanitarianCrisis #ExplosiveWeapons #WarImpact #UNReport
Record Number of Children Killed by Explosive Weapons in 2024: Save the Children Report
Record 12,000 children were killed or injured by explosive weapons in 2024 as urban conflicts rise, says Save the Children.
