"CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS"

A group of United Nationss officers from a variety of expert backgrounds visited Sool and Sanaag, in Somaliland, to assess the human rights situation in the two regions, after a pause of a few years due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. UNSOM

Conflict, violence and other crises left a record 36.5 million children displaced from their homes at the end of 2021, UNICEF estimates – the highest number recorded since the Second World War. This figure includes 13.7 million refugee and asylum-seeking children† and nearly 22.8 million children who are internally displaced due to conflict and violence. UNICEF

UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Afshan Khan, said that nearly two thirds of Ukraine's children are displaced, adding that “the numbers are staggering and they bear repeating.” UNIFEED

A UN humanitarian official today (12 May) reported that on Monday, another 174 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, bringing the total number of civilians evacuated from the steel and neighbouring areas to over 600. UNIFEED

War in Ukraine presenting ‘child protection, child rights crisis’, senior United Nations official tells Security Council.

Ten weeks into the war in Ukraine, UN humanitarians on Friday said that they were urgently ramping up efforts to provide vulnerable children with specialist and psychosocial support, amid “tremendous” mental health needs and ongoing dangers linked to the Russian invasion and sexual and gender-based violence. UNTV CH

At least one in six UNICEF-supported schools in eastern Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the war, including School 36 – the only ‘Safe School’ in Mariupol – underscoring the dramatic impact the conflict is having on children’s lives and futures. UNICEF

Democratic Republic of Congo crisis thwarting gains in Great Lakes Region, speakers tell Security Council, stressing need to end illicit natural resources trade.

Briefing by Yasmine Sherif, Director of Education Cannot Wait, on her recent visit to Moldova to support Ukraine refugee children.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.