A new report from the United Nations indicates that violence against children in conflict zones reached unprecedented levels in 2024, representing the worst statistics since the organization’s monitoring began almost three decades ago. The Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict detailed a 25% surge in grave violations compared to 2023. The report validated 41,370 grave violations, with 36,221 occurring in 2024 and 5,149 earlier but confirmed in 2024. These numbers exceed those of 2023, which was already a record year. The report emphasized that over 4,500 children were killed, and 7,000 were injured. There was also a substantial rise in the number of child victims of multiple violations, reaching 22,495. The annual report documented violations of children’s rights in approximately 20 conflict areas worldwide. The Palestinian territories topped the list, with the majority of serious violations attributed to Israeli forces, including many in the Gaza Strip. The UN is currently working to verify data concerning an additional 4,470 children who died in Gaza in 2024. The report also mentioned the impact of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, where over 500 children were killed or injured in the past year.
