UNICEF has announced that explosive weapons have been responsible for half of the over 47,500 verified cases of child deaths and mutilations by the United Nations across more than 24 conflict zones worldwide in the past five years. The majority of these incidents have occurred in populated areas, posing a significant threat to children globally. With the rise of urban warfare, the use of weapons designed for battlefields has become a common reality in cities, towns, and villages, resulting in devastating effects on the young population.
Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, highlighted the immense suffering explosive weapons in populated areas cause to children, not only physically but in every aspect of their lives. He emphasized that this situation is not only a reminder of the catastrophic impact and severe consequences of using explosive weapons on children but also demonstrates the importance of taking serious measures to prevent their use in populated areas.
Chaiban further explained that thousands of children die suddenly or have their lives changed forever each year. In addition to physical injuries and scars, there are often less visible psychological, educational, and social effects that can persist throughout their lives, creating cycles of hardship and suffering.
This announcement comes in the context of the first International Follow-up Conference on the Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, held in Oslo, Norway, and adopted in Dublin in 2022. UNICEF noted that this conference offers a crucial opportunity to optimally protect children, their families, and their communities from armed conflict. The declaration, endorsed by over 85 countries, commits nations to take steps to avoid harming civilians during military operations in populated areas.
