the past 10 years more than 2 million children have died as a direct result of conflict and more than 6 million have been seriously injured or permanently disabled. childhood is particularly affected by the explosive weapons used in populated areas, as noted in the report "devastating impact, explosive weapons" . In 2010, this type of weapon caused deaths and maiming thousands of children in 13 of the 17 countries where it was used, according to the UN. The report denounced the massive violations suffered by children involved in armed conflicts where such weapons use. Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Yemen, Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine are the countries where the use of explosive weapons have tragic consequences for children. Children are especially vulnerable to the direct effects of explosions and fragmentation of the munition, effects that are both physical and psychological. Moreover, they also suffer the collateral consequences such as reduced access to health services and education. Only in the first half of 2010, conflict and the attacks on Afghanistan left out of more than 400,000 school children.
Thousands of children were killed during 2009 by direct attack with explosive weapons. Many more have died as a result of the damage reversed on health infrastructure. In addition, survivors are forced to live in a hostile environment created by the variety of psychological, mental and economic use of these weapons cause on society.
The risk of children from the effects of landmines has dropped significantly as a result of the Ottawa Treaty or Convention on the prohibition of antipersonnel mines in 1997 and the efforts of the organizations that actively fight against its use . However, each year, landmines kill or maim 8,000 to 10,000 children. Where data are available on the age of the victims, there is evidence that children represent 41% of them. In Afghanistan, the death of children represents 50% of the casualties caused by unexploded ordnance remaining.
Countries most explosive threats on children
During 2010 (before the outbreak of the riots and conflicts in the Arab countries of North Africa) the six countries where children were most threatened by the use of explosive weapons are:
Afghanistan: During the first four months of 2010 were recorded 106 attacks on schools and during the first half of the year about 400,000 children were left without classes for the development of the conflict, threats and attacks. The schools have been attacked can be closed for years.
OPT: Children were almost one third of the civilians killed during the operation Cast Lead ended January 18, 2009 after 23 days of air strikes and ground operations in Gaza by the Israeli army. In 2010 continued to use in particularly explosive weapons bunkers in the area which borders Israel and in the coastal area, causing damage to children.
Pakistan: In 2009 the Pakistani army launched an attack with artillery bombardments in the province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa to oust the insurgents associated with the Taliban. According to the Institute for Peace Studies from Pakistan, 3,021 people were and 7334 killed (mostly civilians) were affected by the increased use of household items. Civilians are estimated to reach 30 percent of deaths from air strikes by U.S. drones. Somalia
: Explosive weapons are widely used by both sides of the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government (supported by troops from the African Union) and insurgent groups. The intensification of the conflict since mid-February to late April 2010 left a thousand dead, most of whom were civilians caught in the bombing of both. In an MSF hospital, women and children under 14 years represented 38 percent of those being treated for war wounds, 64 percent of which had severe damage.
Sri Lanka: In May 2009 was the final offensive by government forces against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Explosive weapons, particularly mortars, killed a large number of civilians, including children.
Yemen: In August 2009, the government re-launched an offensive against insurgents in the north. Artillery, drones and homemade bombs killed 189 children and damaged 155. 71% of these injuries were due to direct confrontations between both sides.
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