Atrocities committed against children
In conflict-ridden 2017, they were placed in the frontline of brutality and horrific abuse
WE HAVE seen countless reports and summaries of the news developments of 2017. The media extensively covered all the highlights in politics, the arts, entertainment and technology, among others. But how did 2017 fare for the children of the world? Not so many people seem to be asking that question.
Regrettably, 2017 has been another conflict-driven year and once again children have paid the highest price. Even worse, their suffering was not limited to predictable conflict regions like Syria or Yemen. Dozens of countries, now almost forgotten after receiving a small amount of international attention, became brutal scenes of renewed child abuse. Do you remember the Central Republic of Africa? Ukraine? South Sudan? These and many other regions saw increasing numbers of children placed in the frontline of conflicts.
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef ) director of emergency Manuel Fontaine said: “…Children are being targeted and exposed to attacks and brutal violence in their homes, schools and playgrounds. As these attacks continue year after year, we cannot become numb. Such brutality cannot be the new normal.”
Sadly, such horror has become ordinary for many around the world. Let’s start with Yemen, which experiences the worst of circumstances. Predictably, the response of the world doesn’t match the urgency of the situation. In the 1 000 days of fighting, at least 5 000 children lost their lives or were injured.
At present, 11 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance and 385 000 are severely malnourished to the extent of facing death, unless treated immediately. The situation is worsened by what’s been described as history’s worst cholera epidemic. According to Unicef, the disease infects one child every 35 seconds on average. Another report by the same organisation revealed that two million Yemeni children are out of school, and more than three million children were born into the war.
Inevitably these children have been “scarred by years of violence, displacement, disease, poverty, malnutrition and a lack of access to basic services”. Additionally, as stated by Unicef, since March 2015 violence cost the life of “an average of five children every day”. Unicef ’s representative in Yemen Meritxell Relano said “an entire generation of children in Yemen is growing up knowing nothing but violence”.
In Syria, after years of violence, three million children had to flee to other countries, thousands perished on the way and thousands more fell prey to human trafficking schemes in Europe and elsewhere. As for the situation back in Syria, close to six million Syrian children require humanitarian assistance – and that’s when they are not being used as human shields or targeted specifically by snipers.
The ongoing aerial bombardment in Iraq and the earlier fighting between Islamic State and the Iraqi army has deprived five million children of access to clean water and healthcare services, among other necessities.
Children of many other countries went through similar ordeals in different parts of the world in 2017. For example, in:
● Afghanistan: 700 children were killed.
● Central African Republic: The fighting has escalated with the killing, raping and abduction of countless children.
● Democratic Republic of the Congo: 850 000 children were driven from their homes due to violence. According to estimates, 350 000 children are malnourished in that country.
● North-eastern Nigeria and Cameroon: Boko Haram used 135 children as suicide bombers. This is five times more than the number in 2016.
● Mynanmar: Rohingya children suffered shocking violence and were driven from their homes in Rakhine state.
● South Sudan: More than 19 000 children are being used as child soldiers.
● Somalia: Children are increasingly being recruited by armed groups.
● Eastern Ukraine: 200 000 children live under the constant threat of landmines.
In the 21st century, one would expect the world to be a safer place for our children and not increasingly resemble the horrible days of the 20th century’s two world wars.
It is almost unbelievable to hear that children are being specifically targeted by snipers in Syria or hacked to death in the CAR or burnt alive in Rohingya. However, the unacceptable and unthinkable is happening and the innocent, most vulnerable and most precious members of our societies are being hurt.
According to Unicef, parties are “blatantly disregarding” the international laws created to protect children and the world seems content to stand by and watch.
Clearly, our leaders need to take urgent action and without hesitation to stop these atrocities. If they act decisively and take steps to prevent further harm by utilising all their resources, there is no doubt that their people will rally behind them and support their conscientious and humane efforts. We should not forget; every second we delay in taking action, a child might be getting hurt or killed somewhere in the world and it is within our power to stop it.
THEY’RE TARGETED IN THEIR HOMES AND PLAYGROUNDS, WHILE THE WORLD WATCHES AND DOES NOTHING