UNICEF: 3.6 million Iraqi children are at risk of death and sexual violence

(IraqiNews.com)- Around 3.6 million children in Iraq are at serious risk of death, injury, sexual violence, abduction and recruitment into armed groups. This was revealed on Thursday by UNICEF in their report titled ‘A Heavy Price for Children’. Adding further, the report further revealed that, almost one-third of Iraq’a total child population, which is around 4.7 million, require humanitarian aid and the living conditions of several families continue to worsen due to the ongoing military operations in Fallujah and around Mosul.

Sharing details about the findings in the report, a UNICEF press release stated, “Around 3.6 million children (one-fifth of total population) in Iraq are at serious risk of death, injury, sexual violence, abduction and recruitment into armed groups. The number of children in danger of falling into these insecurities has increased by 1.3 million in the past 18 months.”

“4.7 million children (one-third of the population) in Iraq require humanitarian aid, while the living conditions of several families continue to worsen due to the ongoing military operations in Fallujah and around Mosul. Children in Iraq are in the firing line and are being repeatedly and relentlessly targeted,” the report added.

The report further stated, “A total of 1,496 children have been abducted in the country over the past two and a half years. That translates to 50 children abducted each month, with many forced into fighting or sexually abused,” adding, “Almost 10 per cent Iraqi children – more than 1.5 million – have been forced to flee their homes because of violence since the beginning of 2014, often multiple times. Almost 3.5 million children from the school going age groups are missing out on education.”