Coronavirus: Global ceasefire would be a game-changer for 250 million children living in conflict-affected areas

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore

Home > Media Contacts and Press Releases > Coronavirus: Global ceasefire would be a gamechanger for 250 million children living in conflict-affected areas

NEW YORK, 17 April 2020 – “Today there are 250 million children around the world living in areas under conflict. Each of these children needs warring parties to heed the call of the UN Secretary General to lay down their weapons as part of a global ceasefire to confront the coronavirus pandemic. Each of these children needs to finally be safe from the violence.

“Parties to conflict will not be able to fight coronavirus while still fighting each other.

“Yet nearly a month on from the Secretary General’s appeal, violent conflict continues to be waged in parts of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, among others.

“To the children living through these waking nightmares, a ceasefire could mean the difference between life and death.

“A global ceasefire would protect children from being killed, maimed or forced from their homes by conflict. It would stop the attacks on vital infrastructure like health centers and water and sanitation systems. It would open space for vulnerable populations to access essential services like healthcare – services that are key to stopping a pandemic. It would create opportunities to engage with parties to conflicts for the safe release of children from armed forces and groups.

“There have been some positive developments, with parties to conflicts in 11 countries having already committed to a cessation of hostilities during the pandemic.

“Nevertheless, far more needs to be done to make a meaningful difference for children on the ground:

“First, all parties to conflict should make and respect ceasefire agreements, period.

“Second, authorities and groups controlling territory should facilitate open access for humanitarian personnel so that we can reach children and families with essential services, including food, healthcare, protection, water and sanitation. This access could also be used to repair or rehabilitate key infrastructure that may have been affected by fighting so that populations are better protected from the spread of coronavirus.

“Third, armed forces and groups must not impede the delivery of relief supplies, or prevent people in need from obtaining services. All civilians under the control of government or opposition groups must be allowed to receive assistance that is vital to their survival and wellbeing.

“Fourth, parties to conflicts should release any children being held in detention in relation to armed conflict or national security. Armed forces and groups should also release children from within their ranks. As ever, UNICEF stands ready to assist authorities in preparing to release children, including through identifying safe conditions.

“In the meantime while the fighting continues, so too does coronavirus’s silent march on vulnerable children and populations caught in the middle.

“A global ceasefire would serve as a model of cooperation and solidarity to push back against coronavirus, a pandemic which threatens all of humanity, especially the most vulnerable among us. Not only would a ceasefire significantly improve our chances to defeat the disease in the short term, it could lay the groundwork for a durable and lasting peace – and that would mean everything for children and their futures.”

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

For more information, please contact:

Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]

 

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.

 

For more information please visit unicef.org.uk

 

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