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UNICEF: Nearly 1,000 children killed or injured in Ukraine-Russia war
After nearly six months of Russian invasion of Ukraine, UNICEF has verified that at least 972 children have been killed or injured by the violence.
This represents an average of more than five a day, but UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell added that “we believe the true number to be much higher.”
"These are just the figures the UN has been able to verify. We believe the true number to be much higher," she said. "The use of explosive weapons has caused most of the child casualties."
She said most child casualties resulted from the use of explosive weapons, which “do not discriminate between civilian and combatant”, especially in populated areas, as has been the case in cities such as Mariupol, Luhansk, Kremenchuk, Vinnytsia, and elsewhere.
A story no child should ever draw.
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) August 22, 2022
Six months into the war in Ukraine, children need peace now. pic.twitter.com/MNwQ7BWCLc
Meanwhile, almost every child in Ukraine has been exposed to deeply distressing events. Those fleeing violence are at significant risk of family separation, abuse, sexual exploitation, further attacks, and trafficking, the United Nations mentioned in its report.
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The escalating hostilities have also devastated the education system. UNICEF estimates that 1 in 10 schools have been damaged or destroyed.
Schools have been targeted, or used by parties to the fighting, which means families do not feel safe sending their children back to the classroom, it added.
levantnews-UN
