Amman: At least 12.2 million children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have been killed, injured, or displaced by conflict in less than two years, equivalent to one child displaced every five seconds and one killed or maimed every 15 minutes, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
According to Jordan News Agency, UNICEF issued a statement indicating that more than 12 million children have been displaced, over 40,000 injured, and nearly 20,000 killed. "Every five seconds, a child's life is turned upside down due to conflict in the region," said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edward Beigbeder. He noted that half of the region's 220 million children live in conflict-affected countries.
UNICEF warned that approximately 110 million children across the region are growing up in areas impacted by conflict, with violence continuing to disrupt every aspect of their lives, destroying homes, schools, and healthcare facilities.