Children in conflict zones face escalating dangers as attacks on schools and hospitals surge, recruitment into armed groups rises, and landmines claim young lives, prompting a stark warning from UN envoy Virginia Gamba, who condemned the global community’s inaction as a “stain on our collective conscience.” She was speaking on Tuesday.
The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, has condemned the global community’s inaction in addressing the suffering of children in conflict zones.
“The cries of these children echo across conflict zones, yet the world remains silent. Their pain is a stain on our collective conscience,” Gamba stated on New Year’s Eve, urging decisive action to prevent further tragedies.
Her statement highlighted alarming trends, including the increasing recruitment of children into armed groups in regions like Colombia, the Sahel, Sudan, and Haiti. Gamba also noted that attacks on schools and hospitals, along with the killing and maiming of children, are becoming the most widespread violations in conflict zones, with children accounting for 30% of casualties caused by landmines and explosives in areas like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
She called for urgent measures, including safeguarding humanitarian access, upholding international laws, banning the military use of schools, and eliminating anti-personnel landmines.
“As we enter 2025, let us choose compassion over indifference and peace over war,” Gamba urged, emphasizing that children’s lives and futures must be prioritized.
