Child violence in armed conflicts reaches unprecedented high.
A 2023 United Nations (UN) report, not yet released to the public, revealed that violence against children in war zones has hit a concerningly new high. The annual UN report titled "Children in Armed Conflicts," which will be published by news agency AFP on a Thursday, points fingers at controversial Islamist Palestinian groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as Israel's military during the Gaza War.
The report dismally notes that "violence against children in armed conflicts has reached alarming levels, with a horrific 21% increase in severe abuses." An official UN meeting scheduled for New York on Thursday will introduce this report. According to the record, there were at least 30,705 instances of child abuse in 2022, involving 5,301 deaths, 6,348 injuries, and 8,655 child conscriptions for fighting. Adding to this, 4,356 abductions and 5,205 cases where humanitarian aid was denied to children were tracked.
A senior UN official expressed their distress over the situation. "[We've] never seen such disrespect for children's rights, especially their right to live," the official said. The data indicates a startling rise and intensification of crises. The Gaza War, sparked by a vicious Hamas ambush on Israel in October 7, saw these child rights breaches spike by 155%. According to the report, 43 Israel children were murdered in Israel and the West Bank by Hamas or Islamic rebels during the Hamas strike.
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The 2023 UN report, set to be published, reveals a record level of violence against children in armed conflicts, with a substantial 21% increase in severe abuses. Despite international efforts, conflicts continue to pose grave risks to children's safety and well-being, as demonstrated by the alarming UN data.
