Children in Conflict: UNICEF Reports Nine-Fold Increase in School-Related Violence
As the conflict in Syria rages on, UNICEF reports a nine-fold increase in the number of attacks targeting schools since 2011. This drastically underlines the threat to children in the region and their right to safe places for learning. While millions of children continue to be affected by the ongoing war, appropriate measures for protecting them must be taken to prevent further violations of their rights.
UNICEF works relentlessly to improve the lives of children living in conflict around the world. The prevalence of violence and insecurity in war-torn areas such as Syria can have a lasting impact on a child’s physical and mental health, the ability to access education and the path towards a better future. Countries in the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq and Yemen, are frequently involved in armed conflicts. Thus, the children living in these areas are exposed to extreme violence and danger.
Impact of War on Children in Conflict-Affected Areas
The effects of war and conflict on children can be catastrophic. These effects can both affect children in the short-term, as well as having a lasting impact on their lives.
Short-term Effects
Children in conflict-affected areas are exposed to many forms of violence, including bombing and shelling, gunfire, military raids and other human rights violations. This violence puts their lives and livelihoods at risk, and can have long-term psychological and emotional effects. Even when not at direct risk of physical harm, the constant threat of violence can cause deep emotional trauma in children.
Children in conflict-affected areas are also more likely to develop physical illnesses due to poor nutrition, inadequate access to healthcare, lack of clean water, and frequent displacement. Additionally, overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions can lead to the spread of communicable diseases like measles and cholera.
Long-term Effects
The long-term effects of war and conflict can be devastating for children. War often interrupts education, and in some cases, can even lead to children missing out on entire school years. This can have significant consequences for children’s future, as access to education is essential for a child’s development and future opportunities.
Children who experience war or conflict can also develop lifelong mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Moreover, many children living in difficult circumstances face exploitation, abuse or even involvement in the conflict, leading to their further victimization.
UNICEF Reports Nine-fold Increase in School-Related Violence
In the ongoing conflict in Syria, the displacement of large numbers of families and disruption of essential services, such as healthcare and education, is a major concern for UNICEF. On April 15, 2021, UNICEF published a report on the escalating dangers for children in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on the nine-fold increase in attacks on schools since 2011.
The Attacks
UNICEF reports that, between 2011 and 2020, at least 24,000 documented attacks were launched on educational facilities and personnel in Middle Eastern countries. The majority of these attacks have been in Syria, and have been against schools, teachers and students, including bombings, burning and looting of facilities.
Additionally, UNICEF also reports on instances of children and staff being denied access to their schools due to the intensified conflict – for example by temporary closures and threats of attacks. In many cases, children in conflict-affected areas have not been able to access a safe place to study, either because their school is closed or because it is no longer a safe environment.
Consequences
The report reminds us of the disastrous consequences of attacks on educational facilities in these areas.
Firstly, children are denied access to a safe learning environment, thus permanently affecting their development and future opportunities.
Secondly, as schools are a vital part of the community that provides essential services such as healthcare and nutrition, their disruption has long-term effects on the community as a whole.
Thirdly, many of these attacks are targeting educational personnel, thus preventing them from fulfilling their duties and playing their vital role in children’s lives.
Finally, the attacks have a direct impact on the ability of children to access quality education, with devastating consequences both for their education and their future success.
UNICEF’s Response
In its report, UNICEF reminds us of its commitment to defending children’s right to an education in safety and security. The organisation recognises that protecting the rights of children living in conflict-affected areas is crucial for the future of these countries and for the development of the Middle East region.
As part of its response, UNICEF has declared its support for Universal access to education for all children, including those living in conflict-affected areas. The organisation is committed to working with partner organisations and governments to protect children’s rights and populations affected by conflict, in order to ensure that every child has access to quality education and can reach their full potential.
As we reflect on the nine-fold increase in attacks targeting schools in the Middle East since 2011, we are reminded of just how devastating the conflict in Syria has been on the lives of children in the area. This serves to underline the importance of protecting children in conflict-affected areas and taking appropriate measures to ensure that their right to education and safety is not violated. UNICEF is committed to its mission of protecting children’s rights and improving their lives, and its response to this nine-fold increase in school-related violence is one that must be applauded and supported.
