Explosive weapons caused nearly 12,000 child casualties—including deaths and injuries—in 2024, marking the highest number ever recorded. This figure represents a disturbing 42% increase since 2020 and underscores a brutal shift in modern warfare, says a harrowing report from Save the Children.
Where once children in conflict zones primarily succumbed to malnutrition, disease, or collapsing healthcare infrastructure, they are now increasingly victims of direct blast injuries from bombs, missiles, and drones. These weapons frequently strike in urban areas—schools, homes, and hospitals—that international humanitarian law designates as safe sanctuaries for children, turning them into death traps instead.
Changing Nature of Conflict Increases Risks for Children
The report — Children and Blast Injuries: The Devastating Impact of Explosive Weapons on Children, 2020–2025 – Save the Children’s Resource Centre— exposes how full-scale urban warfare has magnified the risks to children exponentially. For three years running, government forces have been identified as major perpetrators, employing wide-area effect explosives in densely populated environments.
This shift has propelled state-made explosive weapons to cause over half (54%) of all civilian casualties, up from 17% in 2020—a stark reflection of growing impunity. As warfare increasingly incurs in cities, children are uniquely exposed, suffering catastrophic injuries that community and healthcare systems are ill-prepared to handle.
Lifelong Physical and Psychological Consequences for Survivors
Young bodies and developing organs make children especially vulnerable to blast injuries, which often result in complex traumas requiring long-term medical intervention. Survivors frequently endure chronic pain, disabilities such as amputations, burns, hearing loss, and traumatic brain injuries.
Yet, most healthcare responses remain designed for adults, neglecting children’s specific anatomical, physiological, and psychosocial needs. Psychological trauma and stigma can further compound survivors’ distress, disrupting education and social development.
Global Hotspots with Highest Child Casualty Rates
The deadliest conflicts for children in 2024 include Gaza, where over 20,000 children have been killed since October 2023 amid relentless military campaigns. In Gaza alone, an average of 475 children each month have sustained life-altering injuries.
Ukraine has seen a 70% surge in child casualties by explosive weapons, many suffering mine and unexploded ordnance injuries. Other severely impacted regions include Syria, Yemen, Sudan, the Palestinian territories, and parts of Africa and Asia experiencing prolonged conflict and instability.
Initiatives to Improve Medical Response and Child Protection
In response, Save the Children, together with Imperial College London and international partners, founded the Paediatric Blast Injury Partnership. This coalition develops specialized medical guidelines and training for frontline workers treating children with blast trauma.
The resulting Field Manual is now employed in multiple active conflict zones. Furthermore, the Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies aims to expand research, enhance clinical care, and inform inclusive policies worldwide.
Demanding Global Action to Protect Children From Explosive Weapons
Save the Children’s urgent calls implore governments and international bodies to ban explosive weapons in populated areas. They also urge these bodies to enhance accountability. Additionally, there is a call to significantly increase investment in survivor assistance and rehabilitation. The report warns that tolerating explosive weapon use as an inevitable “cost of war” marks a dangerous moral surrender and threatens the very concept of childhood.
The scale and severity of child casualties from explosive weapons are a grave humanitarian crisis. They expose children to unprecedented suffering. This crisis leads to lifelong challenges. Global efforts to ban these weapons are essential. Supporting survivors is also crucial for safeguarding childhood and human rights in conflict zones.
“The world is witnessing the deliberate destruction of childhood – and the evidence is undeniable.” — Narmina Strishenets, Senior Conflict and Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children UK
Q&A Section
Q: How many children were killed or injured by explosive weapons in 2024?
A: Nearly 12,000 children suffered casualties, the highest tally recorded.
Q: What proportion of child casualties are caused by explosive weapons?
A: Approximately 70% of child casualties stem from explosive weapons.
Q: Who is primarily responsible for these casualties?
A: Government forces using wide-area explosive weapons in densely populated areas.
Q: What kind of injuries do child survivors face?
A: Multiple severe injuries including amputations, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and hearing loss often requiring lifelong care.
FAQ
Why are children particularly vulnerable to explosive weapons?
Due to their smaller size and developing bodies, children suffer more severe injuries and more complex recoveries.
Which regions are most affected by child casualties from explosive weapons?
Top affected regions include Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What measures are being taken to improve care for injured children?
Development of specialized medical manuals, frontline training, and expanded research through international partnerships.
What steps should the international community take?
Ban explosive weapons in civilian areas, enforce accountability, and fund comprehensive survivor support.
