Impact Of Conflicts Kills 300 Babies Every Day, Report Says

Destruction from conflict in Yemen (Picture: PA).

More than half a million babies may have died as a result of conflict over the past five years, a report by Save the Children has warned.

Research by the charity shows that on average, there are more than 100,000 deaths annually or 300 every day.

The death toll does not include children killed directly by fighting.

Instead, the report estimates the number of infants and young children who may have died from knock-on effects of conflict, such as starvation or outbreaks of disease. 

Between 2013 and 2017, at least 550,000 deaths of children under the age of one could be linked to the effects of war in the 10 worst-affected conflict zones. Children in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, were among the most affected by conflict in 2017.

The figure rose to 870,000 when children under the age of five were included. 

In comparison, the charity estimates that almost 175,000 fighters or soldiers were killed in the conflicts over the same five-year period.

Save the Children share the story of a 12-year-old boy called 'Saleh'. He woke up surrounded by flames, buried under rubble after a missile hit his house in Yemen.

After receiving treatment in hospital for a year-and-a-half, he is now starting to walk again. 

"I got buried and screamed, and tried to get the fire off me,” Saleh said.

"I was asleep and woke up burned. My mother started screaming and came to me while I was on fire.”

“I hope I can recover and can get back to studying and then get a job. I want to become a doctor and treat patients and children. And that the war in our country ends. I want to go home.”

His mother 'Kalima' said: "Every now and then he had to have another operation. I had jewellery, I had gold. I had two sets of earnings, five bracelets, two long chains and a small necklace set. I sold them for my son.

"He used to have more pain before the operations. He couldn’t lie down or rest. He used to get up and sit like this and cry. And I would sit and cry with him."

The charity is calling on the UK to make a number of changes, including raising the urgency of protecting civilians at NATO and the UN Security Council and to track civilian harm and record civilian casualties as per the recommendations of the Chilcot Inquiry.

They also want the UK to 'call out' violations against children in conflict, including those by allies.  

Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children, said: “The UK should be using its global influence to protect children living in war zones. From Yemen to Syria and South Sudan, children are bearing the horror of armed conflict.

“Some are treated as collateral damage in urban bombing. Others are deliberately targeted for killing, abduction and recruitment by armed groups. Millions go hungry because humanitarian aid is obstructed.

“Britain should send a clear message to the world: the war on children must end, and those who commit crimes against children will be held to account.”

Last month, the Ministry of Defence published guidance for military personnel on Human Security in conflict areas. It outlines how to protect vulnerable people.  

All UK soldiers deployed on operations are taught how to identify and respond to children affected by conflict.