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Children in Afghanistan look at an armed US soldier (archive image)
Photo: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
They live in the middle of minefields, become victims of sexual violence or learn to see their classmates as enemies: Millions of children worldwide live in conflict areas, with all the consequences.
Last year there were said to have been around 452 million girls and boys.
Five percent more than in the previous year.
That is the result of a study by Save the Children.
The study was carried out together with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
According to the report, 193 million children lived in the "most dangerous living conditions" - more than ever before. The organization understands life in conflict areas with more than 1000 deaths in the past year as such circumstances. According to Save the Children, the number of such disputes rose particularly sharply in the past year. Countries in Africa and the Middle East are particularly affected, but also the Philippines, for example.
One focus of the investigation in the current report was therefore on the recruitment of children and young people for military conflicts. The involvement of minors often has very different facets, according to the NGO. Not only regular armies, but also armed groups made increasing use of children. In most conflicts, significantly more boys than girls are at risk. However, all those affected without exception suffered from the consequences.
While boys are often abused as servants, overseers or human shields, girls are threatened with sexual violence or being used as suicide bombers. Often the experiences made also mapped out the further path in life. Many families rejected the children. The experience often led to drug abuse and psychological problems: "Mental and physical complaints can have a lifelong effect," write the authors of the study.
"We have to do everything together to stop the war against children," said Florian Westphal, Managing Director of Save the Children Germany, on the occasion of the publication.
»Whether Covid-19 or the climate crisis with all its effects: Children in conflict are still hit harder.
They are at great risk.
They have the right to a carefree childhood. "
The authors of the study point out the difficulty in obtaining reliable numbers.
Much of the report is based on the analysis of previous studies and estimates.
Because of the danger, on-site observations are hardly possible, says the foreword.
And: "As a rule, a high number of unreported cases can be assumed."
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