Over 29 million children were born in areas that were in an armed conflict last year, according to the UN Children’s Fund.
Globally, at least one in five infants start life in extremely dangerous and stressful environments, including in countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“Millions of families lack access to nutritious food, safe water, sanitation or a safe environment to grow up in,” says UNICEF Secretary General Henrietta Fore and continues:
“Along with the immediate, obvious dangers, the long-term effects of such a start in life are a potential disaster.”
Prolonged and repeated traumatic experiences can affect children’s learning, behaviour and physical and mental health, UNICEF reports.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
