[Record High] 35,000 Children Forcibly Displaced by Conflict and Violence Every Day

According to a survey by Save the Children (headquartered in London, UK), the number of children displaced by conflict and violence reached a record high in 2025, with an average of 35,000 children newly forced to flee their homes every day. Data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) for 2025 shows that conflict has overtaken climate change as the primary driver of displacement globally for the first time. Save the Children's analysis indicates that in 2025, conflict and violence led to approximately 13 million internal displacements of children, a 46% increase from about 9 million in 2024. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Iran, and Palestine, many children were forced to flee due to conflict and violence. The IDMC counts internal displacement as the number of movements within a country, which can include the same person being forced to move multiple times in a year. ■ More than one in five children globally live in conflict zones, a 60% increase since 2010 Behind the rise in displacement is the reality that more children than ever are living amidst conflict and violence. Save the Children's 2025 report states that in 2024, a record 520 million children—more than one in five globally—lived in conflict zones, a 60% increase since 2010. Furthermore, the number of grave violations against children (including killing, maiming, and sexual violence) increased by 373% over the same period, highlighting the escalating severity of conflicts. In 2025, 32.7 million children were internally displaced, with more than four out of five fleeing conflict or violence. Additionally, the latest data from 2024 shows that over 19 million children were living as refugees or asylum seekers outside their home countries. ■ The dire reality for displaced families Salama* (35), a mother of seven, fled her home in eastern DRC due to violence, leaving behind her land and belongings. Life is extremely harsh for her family. In the DRC, conflict has displaced approximately 5.6 million people, including an estimated 2.5 million children. Salama said: "I left everything behind—pots, clothes, bedding. We are starting from nothing. Life here is very difficult, especially without land." One of Salama's children, Gabriel* (1), developed severe acute malnutrition after contracting measles and was in critical condition. Thanks to community health workers and support from Save the Children, he received free medical care and is now recovering, but the family remains in a dire situation due to displacement and poverty. ■ Comment from Melinda Van Zyl, Senior Advisor on Migration and Displacement at Save the Children "Last year, conflict and violence forced an average of over 35,000 children to flee their homes every day. In places like the DRC, Gaza, and Sudan, some children are displaced multiple times. The scale of these numbers is overwhelming, but displaced children are not just statistics. Behind each one is a child who has witnessed violence and destruction, left behind their school, friends, and community, and faces an uncertain future. Governments must step up action to prevent conflict and promote peace, protect children from being forced to flee, and ensure accountability. At the same time, we must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered safely and continuously, and that displaced children receive the support they need and long-term solutions." Founded in 1919 in the UK, Save the Children is an international NGO working in around 100 countries to ensure children's rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. Save the Children Japan was established in 1986 and celebrated its 40th anniversary on May 7, 2026. It operates in areas including emergency humanitarian aid, health and nutrition, education, disaster risk reduction, child protection, and child poverty.