Global conflict zones affect one in five children worldwide

According to data from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), more than one in five children globally—approximately 520 million—live in conflict zones as of 2024. This represents the highest level recorded by this metric. Furthermore, an estimated 65% of the world's child population resides in countries affected by armed conflict.

In Africa, roughly 218 million children live in conflict areas, accounting for 32.6% of the continent's youth population. Specific crises in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan highlight the severe risks faced by minors, including direct violence, hunger, disease, and family separation.

The UNHCR Argentina Foundation has launched the initiative ‘War is NOT a Game’ to raise awareness about these impacts. Beyond physical violence, children in these regions face indirect consequences such as lack of access to clean water, malnutrition, interrupted education, and the destruction of hospitals and schools. Many children are also at risk of being recruited as soldiers or falling victim to human trafficking and sexual slavery during forced displacement.