Each year, millions of individuals undergo forced displacement from their residences, either voluntarily or due to external pressures stemming from factors such as warfare, armed conflicts, pervasive violence, ethnic cleansing, persecution, human rights violations, and natural disasters. Alarmingly, almost half of these displaced individuals are children, making them particularly susceptible to the hazards associated with such upheavals. The scale of children forcibly displaced by conflict has reached unprecedented levels, estimated at around 30 million, surpassing any other period since the conclusion of the Second World War, as reported by UNICEF on World Refugee Day in 2018.
For a more nuanced understanding of the situation, it is crucial to distinguish between various categories of displaced children:
- Refugee Children: These are children compelled to cross international borders under duress, as exemplified by the Rohingya children in Bangladesh.
- Internally Displaced Children: In contrast to refugees, internally displaced children do not traverse international borders but face displacement within the confines of their own country. This group constitutes two-thirds of the overall number of displaced children.
- Unaccompanied Minors: Arising from armed conflicts and other catastrophic events, numerous children experience separation from their parents or guardians. The global count of displaced children navigating the world on their own has surged to unprecedented levels, escalating nearly fivefold within a five-year span from 2010. In the years 2015-2016, no less than 300,000 unaccompanied and separated children were documented across approximately 80 countries, a stark increase from the 66,000 recorded in 2010-2011. However, it is important to acknowledge that the actual figure of children journeying solo is likely substantially higher than reported.
