In 2001 in Sierra Leone, children act out a rebel attack for their classmates. They’re taking part in a school programme in the camp that uses games, role-playing, storytelling, and plays to help children cope with their feelings about the conflict.
UNICEF/HQ01-0140/Roger Lemoyne
War kills children not only through acts of violence but also if they are denied access to food, shelter, medical treatment, clean water and sanitation. In a five-year war, child mortality rates are likely to increase by 13 per cent. During the conflict in Rwanda in 2004, 300,000 children were killed in just 90 days.
Even if they’re not killed or hurt, war leaves many children orphaned, traumatised, and without food, health care or education. Children may also have to run away from their homes, or they become separated from their families in the chaos that usually accompanies war. They may be abducted, abused or even forced to fight in the conflict as child soldiers.
Modern warfare and children
In 2007, there were 30 armed conflicts taking place around the world. Most of these were civil wars, where people living in the same country fight each other. In modern wars most casualties are civilians: a shocking figure of over 90 per cent, 80 per cent of whom are women or children.
Modern warfare hurts civilians for several reasons. Firstly, civil wars take place where people live - so they aren’t necessarily safe in their own homes or schools. Secondly, women and children are sometimes targeted on purpose, often because they come from a particular ethnic group. The technology of modern warfare also contributes - small easy-to-use weapons such as machine guns are responsible for the majority of deaths during wars. At other times, children are the victims of stray bombs or of landmines left behind after a conflict has finished.
How UNICEF helps
During conflicts, UNICEF tries to make sure that children can carry on with their normal lives as much as possible. We work hard to protect children from abuse, ill health and danger. We work with partners to provide shelter and access to clean water, food and health care. We create areas for education, sport and play and we protect children who are alone or orphaned. We also work with children who have been recruited as child soldiers, to help them recover from their experience of conflict and get back into school and community life.
Further issues