Kenya and children impacted by armed conflicts

Listen to her story of resilience /R4LmwcOWOv- ICRC Africa October 28, 2020Ĭhildren involved in conflict and other situations of violence can also be deprived of essential services, including medical care and psychological support.Įducation is severely affected by armed conflicts with generalized degradation of education systems, general state of insecurity, or lawful military operations, but mainly due to the numerous violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) that too often occur during armed conflict. Kaltouma Madourom from the Lake Chad region, fled from her home due to conflict. “For me, it was a matter of saving my life and the life of my children.” Says Kaltouma Madourom from the Lake Chad region, she fled from her home due to conflict. Some of the children those who were a little older, were left behind. In a nutshell, they are deprived of their childhood.

This means that they are at risk of being detained, sexually abused, exploited or used by armed forces or armed groups.

What impact can this separation have on these children? One of the first consequences is that children are deprived of care and protection particularly when they find themselves alone. COVID-19 has only made things worse, as restrictions put in place have created new challenges in searching for missing people. Forty-five percent of the cases were children at the time they went missing. Mid this year, nearly 44,000 people across Africa were registered as missing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They can also be separated from their families and end up displaced or find themselves 'on the move'. Their access to education and healthcare often disrupted, and sometimes children can be recruited to take part in the fighting or for support roles.

Kenya and children impacted by armed conflicts