May 06, 2020

Anna Murray 

Around the world, there are about 19 million children living in the displacement within their nations because of internal conflict or violence, based on the report from UN Child’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2019. They are the most vulnerable when the conflict and violence disrupts their usual life.

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director stated that millions of children were displaced by disasters. “Currently, the spread of COVID-19 caused children to live without care and protection. Government or NGOs should work together to provide the solution to keep them safe, healthy, and to ensure their learning right and hygiene protections.”

It is not easy for internally displaced children to receive the basic services. Internally displaced children are living under the risk of child labor, child marriage, labor and trafficking. They lived in a crowed camp or informal shelters. Their living conditions make them even more impossible to keep the social distance. The way of their living increases the possibility to receive the COVID-19 once there is one confirmed case.

According to the report, 12 million new displacements of children were reported in 2019. 8.2 million children were displaced by natural disasters, like flooding and storms. 3.8 million children were displaced by conflict or violence. 

UNICEF called for the immediate action to have the complete strategy from government, civil society, and humanitarian groups to provide the essential protection for the displaced children and their families.