United Nations Radio

A joint report by the World Health Organization and UNICEF says more than 2,000 children die every day as a result of unintentional, or accidental injuries.

Children playing in the street

The report says every year, tens of millions of children worldwide are taken to hospitals with injuries that often leave them with lifelong disabilities.

Director of the WHO Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability Dr. Etienne Krug, describes the main causes of child injuries.

"The leading causes of injuries to children in the world are road traffic crashes, burns, drowning, falls and poisoning. 830,000 children die every year in the world from these unintentional injuries, which is a considerable number: it represents the equivalent of the child population in Chicago. The World Report on Child Injury Prevention shows that once a kid reaches age 9, unintentional injuries become the leading cause of death until it reaches adult age."

The report provides the first complete global assessment of unintentional injuries caused to children.

Donn Bobb, United Nations Radio

(duration: 1'04")