NAIROBI, Kenya – According to reports, in less than two years, at least 12.2 million children have been murdered, wounded, or displaced as a result of wars in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This is the equivalent of one kid being killed or maimed every fifteen minutes and one child being displaced every five seconds.
According to reports, there have been around 20,000 fatalities, over 40,000 injuries, and over 12 million displaced children.
“A child’s life is being turned upside down, the equivalent of every five seconds, due to the conflicts in the region,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder. “Already, half of the region’s 220 million children live in conflict-affected countries. We cannot allow this number to rise. Ending hostilities – for the sake of children – is not optional; it is an urgent necessity, a moral obligation, and it is the only path to a better future.”
The MENA region is marked by diverse demographics and complex political and economic realities. In this environment, UNICEF’s role remains vital. Operating across 20 countries, we deliver humanitarian assistance while investing in resilient systems for education, health, nutrition, and social protection. With decades of experience in the region, UNICEF has consistently delivered results and demonstrated impact at scale.
What children in MENA are frequently deprived of
Nearly 110 million MENA children currently reside in conflict-affected nations. Violence still interferes with almost every part of their life. Health facilities, schools, and homes are being demolished. Children are frequently deprived of protection, subjected to life-threatening circumstances, severe distress, and displacement, and frequently suffer lifelong psychological damage.
The analysis is based on reported figures for children killed, injured or displaced since September 2023 in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, the State of Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and population figures from the UN Population Division.
Due to ongoing life-threatening dangers and vulnerabilities, UNICEF projects that 45 million children in the region would need humanitarian assistance in 2025, up from 32 million in 2020—a 41% rise in only five years.
Significant financial gaps are currently plaguing UNICEF throughout its MENA activities. For example, as of May, the State of Palestine’s 2025 requests have a 68% financing deficit, Syria has a 78% budget gap, and our regional programs are facing mounting financial pressure.
What UNICEF’s funding for MENA means
The outlook for the future is still dismal. UNICEF’s funding in MENA is expected to drop by 20 to 25% by 2026, which could mean a loss of up to US$370 million (Sh48 million). This would put life-saving programs in the region at risk, such as vaccinations against deadly diseases, safe water production in conflict areas, and treatment for severe malnutrition.
“As the plight of children in the region worsens, the resources to respond are becoming sparser,” said Beigbeder. “Conflicts must stop. International advocacy to resolve these crises must intensify. And support for vulnerable children must increase, not decline.”
UNICEF urges all parties to the conflict in the region to end hostilities and uphold international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. Member States with influence over parties to conflict must use their leverage to advocate for peace and the protection of children and the essential infrastructure they rely on for survival.
UNICEF also urges donors to maintain or increase their support for children and calls on new donors to stand with the region’s most vulnerable children.
