Quarter of world's children live in a country affected by conflict or disaster: UN

Sweden, July 10: About a quarter of the world's children are living in a country affected by conflict or disaster. This was said by Henrietta Fore, the head of the UN children's agency on Monday in the United Nations general assembly meeting.

 

Sweden, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, organized the open meeting on the theme "Protecting Children Today Prevents Conflict Tomorrow" and sponsored a resolution unanimously adopted by the 15 members to strengthen UN actions to ensure the care and safety of youngsters.

Speaking on the occasion, Henrietta Fore said that about 535 million, which stands about a quarter of the world's children are living in a country affected by conflict or disaster. She further added that one of every four young people are caught in conflict or disaster like situation.

Henrietta Fore cited that youngsters are recruited to fight, killed by a land mine or an attack on their school, and "losing hope not only in their futures but in the futures of their countries".

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said, "We are not doing nearly enough to protect our children," adding that "350 million children are affected by armed conflict today." On the other side, US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council that more than 60 percent of people in conflict-affected countries are under the age of 25.