Explosive weapons were responsible for a record number of child casualties in 2024, as conflicts increasingly shift to urban areas, according to a report by Save the Children. The UK-based charity, citing UN figures, reported that nearly 12,000 children were killed or injured in global conflicts last year, marking the highest number since records began in 2006. This figure represents a 42% increase compared to 2020.
In the past, children in war zones were more likely to die from malnutrition, disease, or inadequate healthcare. However, with wars such as those in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine taking place in urban settings, children are now more vulnerable to bomb and drone attacks on hospitals, schools, and residential areas.
The report revealed that more than 70% of child casualties in 2024 were caused by explosive weapons like missiles and grenades, a significant rise from around 59% in the previous years. “Children are paying the highest price in today’s wars,” said Narmina Strishenets, senior conflict and humanitarian advocacy advisor at Save the Children UK. “Missiles are falling where children sleep, play, and learn, turning their homes and schools into death traps.”
The impact on children is exacerbated by their smaller bodies and developing organs, making injuries from blasts more severe and recovery more complicated. Paul Reavley, a consultant pediatric emergency physician, explained that children’s anatomy, physiology, and psychosocial needs make them disproportionately affected by explosive weapons.
The conflicts that led to the most child casualties in 2024 were in Gaza, the West Bank, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Syria. The deadliest conflict for children was in Gaza, where 20,000 children have been killed since Israel launched its war in October 2023 in response to an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.
