A prematurely-born baby lies inside an incubator in al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on June 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
Armed violence across countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen meant that, throughout last year, more than one in five babies globally spent their earliest moments in communities affected by the chaos of conflict, often in deeply unsafe, and highly stressful environments.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 29 million babies were born into conflict-affected areas in 2018, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Friday, calling for increased support for parents forced to raise their babies and young children in conflict-affected areas.
Armed violence across countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen meant that, throughout last year, more than one in five babies globally spent their earliest moments in communities affected by the chaos of conflict, often in deeply unsafe, and highly stressful environments.
A mother catches her malnourished baby's hand as he lies on a bed receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, May 5, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
"Every parent should be able to cherish their baby's first moments, but for the millions of families living through conflict, the reality is far bleaker," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
"In countries around the world, violent conflict has severely limited access to essential services for parents and their babies. Millions of families lack access to nutritious food, safe water, sanitation, or a secure and healthy environment to grow and bond. Along with the immediate, obvious dangers, the long-term impacts of such a start in life are potentially catastrophic," she said.
A prematurely-born baby lies inside an incubator in al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on June 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child, in which, among other things, governments pledged to protect and care for children affected by conflict. ■
