Save the Children
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Latest Save the Children articles
Save the Children officially warned by regulator over staff put at risk in Yemen
Warning from Charity Commission for England and Wales concludes two-year investigation after death of Hisham al-Hakimi in October 2023 The international aid charity Save the Children has been issued with an official regulatory warning over management failures and misconduct that put staff at its Yemen office at serious risk. The warning concluded a two-year investigation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales into the running of the office after the death of its safety and security director, Hisham al-Hakimi, in October 2023 after he was detained by the Yemeni authorities. Continue reading...
Sep 23, 2026 · byThe GuardianoPt: Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan opens High Level Dialogue on Palestinian Children in Military detention with the Taoiseach, Palestinian and other World Representatives at the UN
Countries: occupied Palestinian territory, Ireland, Jordan, South Africa, Spain Source: Save the Children NEW YORK, 22 September 2026 – Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan joined the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, the State of Palestine and Save the Children at a United Nations General Assembly side event on Tuesday to call for urgent international action to protect Palestinian children subjected to military detention. The High-Level Dialogue on Palestinian Children in Military Detention, convened by Save the Children and co-sponsored by the governments of Jordan, Ireland, the State of Palestine, Spain, and South Africa, focused on the escalating risks facing Palestinian children who are arrested, detained and prosecuted under Israeli military law, and on the concrete steps governments can take to protect their rights. Save the Children’s latest research documents severe physical, psychological and sexual abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, including reports of torture and other ill-treatment, solitary confinement, deprivation of adequate food and medical care, and denial of basic legal protections. The humanitarian organisation has found that conditions for detained children have deteriorated significantly since October 2023. The dialogue came amid growing international concern over the treatment of Palestinian children in detention and called for greater diplomatic action. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said: “Children’s accounts follow a grim, familiar pattern: Ripped from their homes in the middle of the night, not knowing where they are being taken or why. Brought alone, handcuffed and blindfolded, to interrogation sites; hauled before military courts; pressured to sign documents they don’t understand. Assaulted and threatened with rape… kept underfed, isolated, and afraid.” “I just don’t understand. What is so terrifying about Palestinian children? Before they have even come of age, Palestinians are cast as threats: demographic threats, security threats, presumed guilty of future crimes they haven’t committed. Their innocence stripped away, they are dehumanized so thoroughly that even a kid with roller skates, a soccer ball, or a kite can be seen as something menacing. And a child can be branded a terrorist – as if they were never a child at all.” Micheál Martin, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland said: “The report on abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, and the testimonies we have heard today, are deeply shocking and describe experiences that no child should ever endure. “We all have a responsibility to ensure that the testimonies of these extraordinarily courageous children are not only listened to, but urgently acted upon. The military detention of children cannot be justified. “Ireland, together with international partners, continues to call for Israel to fully comply with international law, and for independent monitoring and accountability, and the protection of all children affected by conflict – of their rights, safety and dignity at all times.” Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said: “Children should never be subjected to violence, abuse or degrading treatment. Yet for decades, Palestinian children have been arrested, prosecuted and detained through a military system that fails to guarantee the protections every child is entitled to. “The testimonies we have heard from children are deeply disturbing. They describe being taken from their families, subjected to violence and humiliation, denied adequate food and healthcare, and left with lasting physical and psychological harm. “Governments have both the responsibility and the influence to act. Expressions of concern are not enough. We need coordinated diplomatic action that delivers tangible protection for Palestinian children and ensures their rights are respected.” The event brought together representatives of governments, the United Nations, humanitarian and human rights organisations to examine both the immediate protection needs of detained Palestinian children and the broader international response. Discussions focused on steps governments can take to end violations against children, strengthen monitoring and accountability, secure independent access to children in detention, and ensure that international law and child rights standards are upheld. Save the Children is calling for an end to the detention of Palestinian children within the Israeli military detention system and the release of children currently held. The organisation is also calling on the international community to use its diplomatic influence to end systematic violations against Palestinian children and ensure independent investigation and accountability for alleged abuses. Notes to editors The High-Level Dialogue took place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, from 3:00–4:15pm EDT in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The event was livestreamed on UNTV . Save the Children’s policy brief, “Tortured”: The Escalating Abuse of Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention , documents physical, psychological and sexual abuse, solitary confinement, inadequate food and medical care, and denial of legal protections reported by Palestinian children subjected to military detention. The research found a significant deterioration in detention conditions since October 2023, with serious long-term consequences for children’s mental health, education and wellbeing. Save the Children has called for children held in the military detention system to be released, for the system of military detention of Palestinian children to end, and for stronger international action to protect Palestinian children and uphold their rights.
Sep 23, 2026 · byReliefWebWorld: Super El Niño threatens to push 8 million children into acute hunger across East and Southern Africa by early 2027 – Save the Children
Country: World Source: Save the Children NAIROBI, 22 September 2026 – About 8 million children across East and Southern Africa could face acute hunger by early 2027, a rise of 30%, as one of the strongest El Nino weather events in recent years fuels a growing food crisis, according to new analysis by Save the Children. Analysis of recent data from global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), found that the number of people facing crisis levels of hunger or worse (IPC Phase 3+) in six countries is expected to surge from 12.6 million people to 16.4 million by March 2027 driven in part by the impacts of the looming “Super” El Niño. Currently six million children in those six countries are experiencing severe food shortages [1] but this is set to rise to eight million in the next few months unless urgent action is taken, Save the Children said. The agency’s analysis only covered countries with recent IPC reports where El Niño is projected to have devastating impacts including Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya. New hunger data is due out shortly for Somalia which has already been flagged for being at risk of El Nino-related floods . Uganda is projected to have the highest absolute number of people facing acute food insecurity in coming months, with 4.4 million people expected to be in crisis or worse levels of hunger by early 2027 – a 22% increase on previous figures. The situation is particularly bad in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda which has seen an increase of more than 40% in the number of people facing crisis or emergency food insecurity. Zambia is forecast to experience the sharpest deterioration, with the number of people facing crisis-level hunger rising by 80% to over 1.2 million people, while Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi are expected to see increases of 75%, 55% and 35% respectively. While food security is expected to improve in Kenya overall by the start of 2027, having already deteriorated this year, the situation among refugees in the country is expected to deteriorate due to El Niño-related flooding. In Mozambique, the forecast comes as many communities in the central provinces are still recovering from severe flooding earlier this year, while conflict driven- displacement in Cabo Delgado continues to put pressure on food, water and health services. In Madagascar, about 502,000 children aged under 5 - or one in 10- are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition between May 2026 and April 2027. This includes about 78,000 children expected to have severe acute malnutrition, the most deadly form of malnutrition requiring urgent medical treatment [2]. The worsening food crisis across much of the region comes as a result of one of the strongest El Niño weather events in recent years, coupled with record-breaking global temperatures, a deadly combination that will cause dangerous droughts, crop failures and livestock losses across parts of Southern Africa. At the same time, the El Niño phenomenon will cause devastating floods in parts of East Africa, pushing already vulnerable families deeper into crisis. Save the Children said El Niño is unfolding against a backdrop of conflict, hunger, displacement, economic instability and humanitarian funding cuts. Without early action, the aid agency said, climate shocks are likely to compound existing vulnerabilities and deepen humanitarian needs, particularly for children and their families. Yvonne Arunga, Regional Director for Save the Children in East and Southern Africa, said: "Hunger is not just about empty stomachs. Children who do not have enough nutritious food are more likely to become malnourished, fall ill, miss school and face increased risks of exploitation and abuse. The longer families go without support, the harder it becomes for children to recover . “When families' livelihoods are destroyed by floods or drought, children may face greater risks of child labour, trafficking, neglect, violence, forced early marriage, and other forms of exploitation. “We know El Niño is coming. We know which children are most at risk. And we know that anticipatory action works. Governments must turn early warnings into early action to protect essential services like schools, hospitals, water and social protection systems, before the crisis hits. The international community and donors must invest now, before droughts, floods and food crises escalate. Every dollar spent helping communities prepare and act early can save lives, protect livelihoods, and reduce the need for much larger humanitarian responses late r .” Save the Children has invested significantly in anticipatory action, taking practical action ahead of forecasted shocks to reduce impacts on children and communities. Across the region, Save the Children is helping families prepare for floods, storms and droughts such as through early warning information targeted at children, evacuation planning, strengthening of community preparedness, and anticipatory cash assistance to allow families to prepare for disasters. Save the Children is also reinforcing health facilities, schools and water systems so they can better withstand floods, droughts and other climate-related shocks. Ends. Notes to Editors: [1] Save the Children compared the most recent Acute Food Insecurity analyses (IPC Phase 3+) from six countries in East and Southern Africa; the countries were selected due to having IPC analyses with a validity period as of September 2026 and a projection that looks ahead into the end of 2026/ the first quarter of 2027 when the effects of El Niño are expected to peak. In all cases, Save the Children compared the number of people currently facing IPC3+, with the projected figure for early 2027 within the same analysis report. The number of children in IPC3+ for each country was estimated by looking at the total number of people facing IPC3+ levels of food insecurity, and applying the national share of children in the population according to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024 revision. [2] According to data from IPC - Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
Sep 21, 2026 · byReliefWebWorld spends more on fossil fuel subsidies every 3 days than amount needed to educate 750 million children
Country: World Source: Save the Children Annually, governments worldwide spend about US$725 billion on direct fossil fuel subsidies - 145X more than the US$5 billion needed to support education across 96 countries. NEW YORK, 21 September 2026 - The world spends more on fossil fuel subsidies every three days than the amount needed to support the education of nearly 750 million children over a five-year period, Save the Children said. The analysis comes ahead of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Replenishment Summit this week at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where world leaders are gathering. At the summit, GPE - which works with governments to strengthen education systems – will seek at least US$5 billion to support education across 96 countries. Annually, governments worldwide spend about US$725 billion on direct fossil fuel subsidies - financial support that lower the cost of producing or consuming coal, oil, and natural gas. These measures come in the form of tax breaks, low-interest loans, and other policies that reduce the operating expenses of oil, gas, or coal industries. It would take just two-and-a-half days in direct fossil fuel subsidies to reach the US$5 billion GPE is seeking to strengthen education systems for 750 million children – about one-third of all children globally - by 2030, Save the Children found. Burning fossil fuels for heat, electricity, transportation, and manufacturing and construction is the single-largest contributor to the climate crisis, which is now the biggest threat to children's lives, including their education. At least one in 10 students globally had their schooling disrupted due to climate-related hazards in 2025, according to the UN . Last month in Nepal, a deadly flash flood, triggered by a partial glacier collapse due to warming permafrost , disrupted the education of thousands of students, including 13-year-old Roma*, with dozens of schools damaged, destroyed or are being used as shelters Roma was at school when word spread that the river was rising. Her father rushed to the school to pick her up and together they headed to safety at a temporary holding centre. Within hours, the flood had swept away her family's home and belongings. "Everything was taken by the flood," she said quietly. "But we all survived. That is the biggest thing. My school bag and books were buried in the flood. I had hoped to come first in the second term. Now I don't know what will happen. I don't even know whether exams will take place.” Today, Roma, a Grade 8 student, is living in temporary accommodation with her parents, brother and two sisters while her family begins the long process of recovery. While humanitarian assistance has helped meet some immediate needs, it is her education that she worries about most. “I miss school,” she said. “I miss studying and seeing my friends.” As the climate crisis continues to increase the frequency and severity of these hazards, students will keep being affected directly through school disruptions - and indirectly through lost learning, reduced lifetime earnings, and widening education inequities. Marian Hodgkin, Head of Education at Save the Children said: “The world is currently grappling with an unprecedented learning crisis that urgently needs investment. World leaders have no problem spending public money to fund fossil fuel subsidies - investments which are fuelling the climate crisis and further deepening the global learning crisis. Yet, when it comes to funding aid and education responses, budgets are drying up. “Every year, governments spend US$725 billion tipping the scales in favour of oil, gas and coal. Yet just US$5 billion over five years could help fund the education of nearly 750 million children whose learning is being disrupted by the climate crisis these same industries are fuelling. The money exists. It is a question of what we choose to invest in - the industries driving the climate crisis, or the children who will inherit it.” Save the Children is calling on world leaders gathering in New York this week for the UNGA, to change course and reinvest in tackling the global learning crisis. This includes pledging at least US$5 billion to fund the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) replenishment, so governments can build stronger, more resilient education systems, so that every child can access their right to education even when disasters strike. Save the Children is also calling on leaders to fund an additional US$600 million at the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) replenishment event in November, to help ensure 10 million of the world's most vulnerable children in crisis can continue learning. Ahead of COP31, the child rights organisation is calling for the urgent phase out of fossil fuels to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and increase investments being directed towards renewable energy. Save the Children works with GPE to help governments across 35 climate-vulnerable countries and territories strengthen school safety, access new climate finance, and build education systems that can withstand increasing floods, storms and extreme weather, helping protect the learning and future of millions of children. The US$5 billion figure refers to the investment the Global Partnership for Education is seeking from donor governments. This investment is expected to mobilise an additional US$10 billion in co-financing, helping support the education of almost 750 million children between 2026 and 2030. Alondra* (37) is the mother of nine-year-old Emma*. Following the earthquake in Venezuela, she faces many uncertainties, but one of her greatest concerns is the impact on children's education. Save the Children is supporting the family through its Safe Space where Emma* can continue learning, playing and socialising with other children. Save the Children also provided clean water, food, recreational kits and psychosocial support, helping children and caregivers cope with the impact of the disaster and begin to recover. Save the Children When disasters or climate emergencies disrupt children’s education, as they have for children in Nepal, Venezuela, Colombia and elsewhere this summer, children must be able to continue their education through crisis. Governments also need stronger, more inclusive, and resilient education systems that can last. Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry Mandatory credit: Charlie Forgham-Bailey/Save the Children The Duke of Sussex has renewed his commitment to supporting children injured in conflict at a special event in West London with long-standing partners Save the Children and Imperial College London. Hosted at Imperial College London’s I-HUB centre, the initiative convened humanitarians, innovators and philanthropists around a shared mission to improve the care of children with amputation injuries. The partnership aims to provide children with a holistic package of support – from the latest prosthetic technology to physical rehabilitation and long-term mental health provision. New Save the Children analysis published today reveals the ever-growing humanitarian need caused by the evolving nature of warfare, with children facing a new generation of explosive threats from the air, on the ground, and increasingly enabled by AI. The research found that some 12,000 children - or more than five every day - were killed or injured by landmines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and other explosive ordnance between 2020 and 2025. The report highlights how the growing use of drones is changing children's experience of conflict. Drone attacks can kill and injure children directly, while also disrupting the schools, hospitals, homes and humanitarian services they rely on. In Ukraine, drone attacks on schools increased by 358% in 2025 compared with the previous year, forcing many children back into remote learning. Imperial and Save the Children co-founded the Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies in 2023, bringing together medics, engineers, humanitarians and policymakers to address the unique challenges children face when injured by explosive weapons. The partnership has enabled the development of an affordable prosthetic knee joint designed specifically for the needs of children who’ve suffered amputation injuries. In September 2025, Archewell Philanthropies announced a $500,000 donation to support humanitarian causes and injured children in conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine, including a grant to the Centre for Blast Injuries Studies, which the Duke has visited three times. Charlie Forgham Bailey / Save the Children Save the Children, Imperial College London and Archewell Philanthropies commit to strengthening partnership to support child amputees with the latest prosthetic technology and long-term rehabilitation. New Save the Children research finds that more than five children every day were killed or injured by landmines and UXO between 2020 and 2025. The analysis shows growing use of drones and AI-enabled warfare is exposing children to new threats and disrupting schools, healthcare and humanitarian aid. Save the Children congratulates President von der Leyen’s leadership, expressed in today’s State of the European Union address, to creating safer digital environments for children, by holding technology companies accountable. This is an essential step towards a digital world where every child can fully enjoy their rights and be protected from harm.
Sep 21, 2026 · byReliefWebMajor disasters disrupted education for at least 13 million children in six countries in three months as Venezuela reopens schools
Countries: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Philippines Source: Save the Children CARACAS, Venezuela, 17 September 2026 – Education was disrupted for about 13 million children over the past three months as Nepal, Japan, Colombia, Venezuela, Indonesia, and the Philippines were all hit by major natural or climate disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or wildfires , said Save the Children. In many countries where the disasters stuck, classes were in session at the time such as in Nepal where children were forced to flee flash flooding. In others, schools were approaching the end of year holidays such as in Venezuela where pupils return to class this week and learning disruptions are only now being felt. Analysing various data sources, Save the Children looked at the impact of these disasters over the past three months and estimated that about 13 million children saw their learning suspended, transferred online, reduced or disrupted in other ways, with some continuing to see their education impacted.[1] In Venezuela, students and teachers said that they were feeling anxious as they returned to school for the new academic year following the twin earthquakes that hit the country on 24 June, killing more than 6,500 people. The earthquakes, the most powerful in a century, halted education for more than 21,000 students [2] and disrupted learning for one million**,** or about one in every eight school-aged child, Save the Children said. Teachers from La Guaira, a coastal region badly hit in northern Venezuela, said it was important to continue efforts to ensure that schools can provide supportive environments for children returning after the earthquakes although some schools have suffered structural damage and cannot reopen. Alondra*, 37, a teacher in Venezuela and mother to nine-year-old Emma*, is worried that the disruption will force students into overcrowded schools, affecting both learning quality and recreational opportunities. “My daughter's education is paramount, of course, and I'm not going to take her out of school, especially not because of this [earthquake],” she said. Alondra has been taking Emma to a Save the Children safe space in the months since the earthquake so she can continue learning and playing with other children her own age. Save the Children in Venezuela and its national partners have helped over 93,970 people** since the earthquakes including through psychosocial support, health support, and community engagement activities. The child rights organisation will also start rehabilitating learning spaces and schools and training teachers to support children affected by the earthquakes. Four other powerful earthquakes in Colombia, the Philippines, Indonesia and in Japan disrupted education for about 4 million children out of the 13 million children. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on 8 June, the first day back to school after the country’s summer break, disrupting education. Since then, Save the Children has reached more than 8,800 people, including 3,900 children, providing support including household items, hygiene kits and temporary learning spaces. Floods brought about by this season's monsoon in the Philippines also affected nearly 7 million students who saw classes suspended including in the capital Manila and several provinces, on and off, for almost two weeks, while almost 900 schools sustained damaged.[3] Tatiana Betancourt, an education officer at Save the Children Colombia, said: “Families temporarily settled in spaces that do not have adequate security and protection conditions affecting educational institutions, limiting children's and adolescents' access to safe learning spaces. Emotional effects on children, caregivers and families include fear, stress and uncertainty generated by the emergency.” In Colombia, the earthquake’s damage to education infrastructure disrupted access to education for over 1 million children and compounded pre-existing poverty. While about 80% of children have returned to learning through partial, hybrid, or alternating attendance, more than 300,000 children are estimated to be facing heightened protection risks, including recruitment by armed groups. [4] Save the Children in Colombia is focusing on supporting the safe return to schools wherever feasible and is supporting temporary learning arrangements through local education partners including temporary learning tents in affected areas such as Chocó. Flash floods in Nepal in August which hit as children were either on their way to school or starting their lessons, killed at least 1,350 people with about 4,800 still missing.[5] While some schools closed by the floods in Nepal have begun to reopen, many displaced children are not currently able to attend classes as they are not registered for schools in areas they moved to. Save the Children has supported more than 6,000 people across Nuwakot, Dhading and Rasuwa districts with essential items and has set up two temporary learning spaces to help children learn. In Japan, Save the Children set up child friendly spaces to provide children with a safe environment to play and recover following the 28 July earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, among other support. When disasters or climate emergencies disrupt children’s education, as they have for children in Nepal, Venezuela, Colombia and elsewhere this summer, children must be able to continue their education through crisis. Governments also need stronger, more inclusive, and resilient education systems that can last. Save the Children is calling on world leaders gathering in New York for the UN General Assembly this month to pledge at least US $5 billion to the Global Partnership for Education to help reach about 750 million children across 96 countries by 2030 by strengthening education systems. The child rights organisation is also calling on leaders to pledge US$600 million this November for Education Cannot Wait, so children in crisis can continue learning. *Names changed for anonymity References: **As of 11 September 2026. Methodology: Over 13 million figure is based on looking at major or high-profile disasters between 1 June and early September where there was a publicly reported impact on education. Disasters included earthquakes in Venezuela (1 million children’s education impacted) ; Colombia ( 1 million ) Indonesia ( over 116,000 ), Japan (about 200,000) and the Philippines ( 3 million ), wildfires in Indonesia ( 1.4 million ), monsoon flooding in the Philippines ( 6.8 million ) and flash floods in Nepal ( 19,000 ). For Japan, the number of children with disrupted education is estimated based on data from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on 650 affected schools, using the average number of students per school in Japan. [1, 5] NEPAL: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/nepal/nepal-rasuwa-flood-situation-report-no-7-8-september-2026 [2] Save the Children Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) August 2026 + UNICEF assessment indicates that more than 432 schools suffered physical damage to their infrastructure. In the state of La Guaira, out of the 290 public and independent schools surveyed in the coastal area, 62 sustained structural damage or suffered total physical collapse. [3] EDCOM 2 - The Second Congressional Commission on Education: https://www.facebook.com/edcom2ph/posts/pfbid0xPVJkvHr9HAYRbofaMZcX3kDNtVcqeiHiq3yCtUSd2pSiYpwMCBMcxMoGrq1GH5fl [4] IRC, 14 Aug 2026: https://www.rescue.org/press-release/irc-launches-health-child-protection-response-colombia-earthquake-death-toll-rises
Sep 18, 2026 · byReliefWebWorld: More than five children a day killed or injured by explosive ordnance as Save the Children warns of growing threats from drones and landmines
Country: World Source: Save the Children New Save the Children research finds that more than five children every day were killed or injured by landmines and UXO between 2020 and 2025. The growing use of drones and AI in warfare is exposing children to new threats and disrupting schools, healthcare and humanitarian aid, while allowing attacks to happen faster and at greater scale. Save the Children, Imperial College London and Archewell Philanthropies commit to strengthening partnership to support child amputees with the latest prosthetic technology and long-term rehabilitation. LONDON, 17 September 2026 - Over 12,000 children - or more than five every day - were killed or injured by landmines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and other explosive ordnance between 2020 and 2025 [1], according to new Save the Children analysis. The research found that explosive ordnance was the largest single named weapon type category in UN reporting on child casualties, causing more recorded child casualties than air strikes or artillery shelling. Children accounted for nearly half (46%) [2] of civilian casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war, where age was known. The report also highlights how the growing use of drones is changing children's experience of conflict. Drone attacks can kill and injure children directly, while also disrupting the schools, hospitals, homes and humanitarian services they rely on. Their ability to hover overhead, monitor movement and strike with little warning can leave children feeling unsafe even when they are not directly targeted. In Ukraine, drone attacks on schools increased by 358% in 2025 compared with the previous year, forcing many children back into remote learning [3]. Save the Children warns that the international norms designed to protect children and their families are being weakened, while rapidly evolving military technology is exposing children to new explosive threats both during conflicts and long after they end. Against this backdrop, the need for innovation to support children affected by conflict is more critical than ever. Save the Children UK, Archewell Philanthropies and Imperial College London are today committing to strengthening their existing partnership to support child amputees with the latest prosthetic technology, rehabilitation and long-term physical and mental health support. Claire Sanford, Conflict and Humanitarian Director at Save the Children UK, said: “Children are facing a new generation of explosive threats from the air, on the ground, and increasingly enabled by AI. As technologies transform conflict, with devastating consequences for children, both partnership and political action are urgently needed. Governments must ensure that the laws and protections designed to keep children safe evolve with changes to warfare. Children’s rights and safety must remain at the centre of decisions about how emerging technologies are developed and used.” In 2025, air-launched explosive weapons, including drones, were involved in around two-thirds (67%) of incidents that harmed civilians worldwide [3]. The growing use of AI and other technologies in warfare also raises concerns about how decisions to use force are being made, particularly when children and other civilians are present. In Sudan, drone attacks accounted for 78% of reported child casualties between January and March 2026 [4]. Health professionals have reported carrying out medical procedures using only a phone light, to reduce the risk of detection and attack by drones. The true scale of harm remains largely unseen. The report also highlights Gaza as an example of a new phase in modern warfare, in which drone surveillance, AI-supported targeting and other unmanned systems are being used at an alarming scale in densely populated areas. Save the Children is calling on the international community to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and enforce stronger political and military policies to protect children in conflict. The organisation is also calling for the international community to invest in victim assistance, research, and rehabilitation for children affected by blast injuries, and establish international rules for AI technology that require meaningful human control and prohibit systems that can select and engage people to target without human oversight. ENDS Notes: The report draws on evidence from the United Nations, including the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Reports on Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, OHCHR and other UN human rights monitoring mechanisms; the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, Explosive Weapons Monitor and Insecurity Insight, as well as Save the Children’s own research and analysis. [1] United Nations, Children and Armed Conflict: Report of the Secretary-General , 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025,2026. Calculation: UN data records 12,053 children killed or injured by explosive ordnance between 2020 and 2025. There are 2,191 days across this six-year period (including the leap year). Dividing 12,053 by 2,191 gives an average of 5.5 children killed or injured every day. [2] Landmine Monitor 2025 Landmine-Monitor-2025-Final-Online-updated.pdf [3] Explosive Weapons Monitor Explosive-Weapons-Monitor-2025.pdf [4] Unicef 2026 https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-245-child-casualties-sudan-first-90-days-2026
Sep 17, 2026 · byReliefWebYemen: latest violence threatens to shatter an already threadbare health system for children
Country: Yemen Source: Save the Children The latest violence in Yemen threatens to shatter the already threadbare health system for children, Save the Children said. ADEN, Wednesday 16 September - The latest violence in Yemen threatens to shatter the already threadbare health system for children, Save the Children said. Rishana Haniffa, Save the Children Country Director in Yemen , said: "The recent escalation will only exacerbate the existing health crisis facing children and families across the country. Health facilities have been reported damaged and are non-functional, while continued hostilities have reduced children’s access to healthcare and other essential services. Fighting is also affecting the delivery of medicines, nutrition and medical supplies to health facilities in areas close to the fighting. And the 93,864 people on the move will be wondering where to go to for help should they need it, while conflict, displacement, a surge in infectious and water-borne diseases—including measles, acute watery diarrheoa and cholera—along with the current heavy rains and flash floods, will lead to a catastrophic humanitarian situation. "At least 43 children have been referred to Save the Children for lifesaving medical care due to conflict-related injuries, including bullet and shrapnel wounds. "Even prior to the escalation, the crisis in Yemen had left the health system crumbling. In January, the UN said that just 60% of healthcare facilities were fully functional, with at least 450 health facilities closing , leaving millions of malnourished children and pregnant women without access to lifesaving care and vaccines for deadly yet preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, cholera and polio. "Every child in Yemen must have safe access to humanitarian assistance and the essential services that they need to survive, recover, and thrive, including healthcare, food, water, shelter and protection. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, must be kept safe and protected from attack. Additional flexible funding is urgently needed to address humanitarian gaps and enable child-focused responses to new displacement, while maintaining continuity of essential services. "Children in Yemen have endured decades of overlapping crises, leaving millions vulnerable even before the latest escalation. They must be protected at all costs." ENDS Save the Children is responding to the needs of newly displaced children and families while maintaining existing lifesaving services. The response includes emergency cash assistance, temporary shelter and hygiene materials, and the provision of safe drinking water to displaced families. Save the Children is also providing child protection support, medical referrals and transportation for injured children, as well as identification and follow-up of separated and unaccompanied children, including family tracing and reunification where required. This escalation comes against the backdrop of an already extremely fragile humanitarian crisis and funding shortfall. An estimated 22.3 million people, including 12.2 million children, require humanitarian assistance and protection this year. However, the 2026 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 20% funded, significantly limiting the ability of humanitarian organisations to respond to a new surge of displaced families. Save the Children delivers health and nutrition services, including frontline medical care, neonatal support, mobile health clinics, and treatment for malnourished children. Our holistic and partnership-driven approach encompasses primary healthcare, emergency obstetric care, vaccinations, treatment for acute malnutrition, and responses to disease outbreaks. Community Health Volunteers supported by Save the Children connect families to care and deliver lifesaving information. In 2025, we reached 1,110,524 people, including 577,434 children, with health and nutrition services through 173 health facilities, 3 community centres and mobile health workers in hard-to-reach areas. For further enquiries please reach out to: Emily Wight, Global Media Manager: Emily.Wight@savethechildren.org; Ahmad Abuhamad, MENAEE Media Manager: Ahmad.Abuhamad@savethechildren.org; Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409 Please also check our X account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.
Sep 16, 2026 · byReliefWebYemen: At least 19 children killed and 49 injured in 40 days of violence
Country: Yemen Source: Save the Children Over one in five of the people killed and injured in recent violence in Yemen are children, said Save the Children, with more than 80% of the child casualties caused by airstrikes, shelling or drones. Over one in five of the people killed and injured in recent violence in Yemen are children, said Save the Children, with more than 80% of the child casualties caused by airstrikes, shelling or drones. At least 19 children were killed and a further 49 injured between 1 August and 9 September, forming part of some 117 civilians killed and 206 injured in the escalating violence in Yemen. At least 175 of the casualties took place in a single week (3-9 September), including 43 children, the highest weekly child casualty toll in the past 12 months. [2]. At least 28 children have been referred to Save the Children for lifesaving medical care due to conflict-related injuries. At least 85,000 people have fled their homes since July, with numbers increasing daily as fighting intensifies. Displaced families are arriving in extremely difficult conditions, having fled suddenly and without the opportunity to carry essential belongings. Receiving sites and host communities — many already operating beyond capacity — are under mounting pressure, and a significant number of children and families lack adequate shelter and are staying in open or informal sites, said Save the Children. Very soon, the convergence of conflict, displacement, a surge in infectious and water-borne diseases—including measles, acute watery diarrhea and cholera—along with heavy rains and flash floods, will result in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Save the Children’s Country Director in Yemen Rishana Haniffa said: "Children are once again paying the highest price for some of the most severe violence the country has seen in years. Children are being killed and maimed by bombs and bullets as they flee their homes in search of safety. They are experiencing severe injuries and psychological harm. Every day we receive calls about injured children needing assistance. Families who have already endured years of conflict, hunger and displacement once again fear for their children's future. Our teams are hearing from parents who are terrified of what comes next, without access to food, clean water, healthcare or a safe place to sleep. Children in Yemen have lived through more than a decade of overlapping crises, leaving millions vulnerable long before this latest escalation. They should not have to bear the burden of yet another wave of violence. Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on, especially schools and hospitals, must be protected from attack. “Every child must be able to safely access the assistance and essential services they need to survive, recover and thrive. At the same time, donors must urgently provide flexible funding to help humanitarian organisations meet rapidly growing needs and sustain life-saving services. Above all, the children of Yemen must be protected at all costs." Save the Children is responding to the needs of newly displaced children and families while maintaining existing lifesaving services. The response includes emergency cash assistance, temporary shelter and hygiene materials, and the provision of safe drinking water to displaced families. Save the Children is also providing child protection support, medical referrals and transportation for injured children, as well as identification and follow-up of separated and unaccompanied children, including family tracing and reunification where required. This escalation comes against the backdrop of an already extremely fragile humanitarian crisis and funding shortfall. An estimated 22.3 million people, including 12.2 million children, require humanitarian assistance and protection this year. However, the 2026 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 20% funded, significantly limiting the ability of humanitarian organisations to respond to a new surge of displaced families. Waleed*,17, the eldest of five siblings, was displaced with his family from Hodeidah to a camp in Lahj in 2017 after years of conflict, constant shelling, and fear. Forced to leave behind his home and school, he struggled to continue his education in temporary learning tents that lacked even the most basic facilities. Discouraged by poor learning conditions and driven by his family's financial hardship, Waleed dropped out of school to help his elderly father, who works as a porter, earn enough to support the family. After Save the Children supported the school by improving classrooms, providing learning materials, training teachers, and creating a safer, more engaging learning environment, Waleed returned to school and is now completing Grade 9 as one of its most committed students. Zaid Shaker / Save the Children Nearly two-thirds of children surveyed across four districts in southern Yemen are out of school following more than a decade of conflict and displacement, Save the Children said as the new school year begins. Eman*, 80, holds 9-month-old grandson, Nader*, as he is screened for malnutrition with a MUAC band, by a nurse at the Save the Children supported Health Unit. Eman*, 80, is struggling to feed and care for her six grandchildren, with no reliable income and dwindling resources. Her son – the children's father – cannot find steady work, and his wife is gravely ill and unable to care for her own children. Before the war, the family kept cattle, made cheese to sell, and had modest savings. With prices rising and no credit available, they now survive on bread, tea, and occasional porridge and rice, often going to bed without dinner. Several of Eman's* grandchildren, including Mona* and Nader*, recently began showing dangerous signs of malnutrition, but thanks to a Save the Children-supported health centre, they were able to get help. Staff provided nutritional supplements and gave Eman* the knowledge and tools to support their recovery. Both children have shown real signs of improvement, with Nader* making encouraging progress after having been visibly emaciated. Ahmed Albasha / Save the Children Children in Yemen are being plunged deeper into hunger as world leaders fail to fully re-open the Strait of Hormuz, said Save the Children, releasing a new market assessment showing how fuel and food prices have skyrocketed since the escalation in the Middle East region four months ago. The number of child casualties in Yemen jumped 70% in 2025, with an average of one child killed or injured every day
Sep 15, 2026 · byReliefWeb
oPt: Education for 1.5 million Palestinian children disrupted for fourth academic year
Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: Save the Children All 1.5 million school-aged children in the occupied Palestinian territory are being denied their right to a safe and quality education for a fourth consecutive academic year, said Save the Children on International Day to Protect Education from Attack [1]. Nearly three years since war started in Gaza, almost all school buildings (97.5%) are damaged while 86% of 649 kindergartens assessed have either been destroyed, sustained damage, or are located in inaccessible areas [2], according to new Save the Children data. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, more than 834,000 school-aged children do not have access to safe and quality education, according to the Education Cluste r, of which Save the Children is a member. Since the start of the school year on Sunday 8 September, Israeli forces have killed at least two school-aged children in Gaza and raided schools in the West Bank, according to news reports. Saadi Ghaliya, 7, was killed when Israeli forces attacked Sukaina School east of Deir al-Balah, and Wafaa Akila, 8, was killed alongside her father in western Gaza when an Israeli strike hit their car as the returned home from school. Israeli forces raided two schools in Nablus this week and forced school administrations to remove Palestinian flags. Save the Children said Israeli military attacks on schools, students and teachers, restrictions on movements, and state-backed settler violence against students and teachers are grave violations of the fundamental right to education under international law. The demolition, confiscation, and closure of schools and education infrastructure are also violations of this right. Despite all the challenges, Palestinian children said they are determined to continue their education. “We are all in agreement to continue in our right to education and we have very big hopes to continue and achieve our ambitions,” said Lama, a 13-year-old student in the West Bank. "For me, school is not just maths and Arabic. School is life”, said Amjad, a 13-year-old student from Gaza. Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said: “As children around the world return to school, reconnect with their classmates, and settle into new routines, Palestinian children continue to face barriers that deny them safe and consistent access to education. “The impact extends far beyond missed school days. For Palestinian children, schools are places of learning, protection, psychosocial support, and social development. Their loss has profound consequences for children's wellbeing, cognitive development, and future life chances. Young children are missing critical developmental milestones; older students face interrupted examinations, delayed graduation, and shrinking opportunities to pursue further education. “This systematic dismantling of Palestinian education is denying an entire generation of its right to learn and the opportunities, dignity, and future that education makes possible." Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. We work with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for young people. Four Palestinian children have reportedly been killed and several injured by Israeli forces over the past six days, including a 10 year old in a tent in Gaza today, said Save the Children. The child rights organisation called once again for urgent international intervention. Homes, schools, health facilities and infrastructure have been completely destroyed in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. The war on Gaza since the 7 October attacks on Israel by Palestinian armed groups has resulted in horrendous consequences for children. More than 13,800 children in Gaza have been killed, as well as 106 children in the West Bank and 33 children in Israel. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Homes, hospitals and schools have been destroyed. More than 1.7 million people have been displaced. Now, more than one million children face the imminent threat of famine. Amidst extremely challenging conditions, Save the Children staff and partners have been working around the clock to support the most vulnerable children and families. Sacha Myers / Save the Children At least 19 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territory so far in July, with four children reportedly killed in Gaza this morning, with attacks near-daily despite a ceasefire. Kareem* is a 16-year-old boy living in a rural village in the West Bank. On his way to school, he is often harassed and sometimes attacked by settlers, who have torn his schoolbooks and stolen his bag. What was once an easy walk to class has become “the path of fear,” forcing him to take long and difficult routes over mountains. Despite living in such a hostile environment, Kareem* finds joy in playing football with his friends and remains determined to stay on his land. Students supported by Save the Children have been blocked from entering their school by an illegal barbed-wire fence, erected by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Sep 14, 2026 · byReliefWeb
‘Sweat the asset’: new development minister plots path to make UK aid count
Kirsty McNeill reaffirms Labour’s 0.7% of GDP pledge and promises value for money to allay voter concerns The development minister, Kirsty McNeill, has declared herself “a huge believer in aid”, as she reaffirmed Labour’s manifesto pledge to return to a target of 0.7% of national income spending. McNeill, a former adviser to Gordon Brown and senior executive at Save the Children, declined to give any timetable, repeating the formula that the government would work towards the target “when fiscal circumstances allow”. Continue reading...
Sep 13, 2026 · byThe Guardian