Escalation of Hostilities Across the Middle East Puts Millions of Children at Risk

AMMAN (June 16, 2025)—Children across the Middle East are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress, and displacement following an escalation in hostilities in the region, said Save the Children.

Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children's Regional Director for Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said:

"Save the Children is deeply concerned by recent developments and Israeli and Iranian air strikes with reports emerging that children have already been killed, adding to an already fragile and volatile regional context.

"While the full implications of this escalation remain to be seen, the risk of a broader regional confrontation is real and deeply worrying. Across multiple countries, children are living amid repeated cycles of violence, fear, and displacement — with long-term consequences for their safety, well-being, and future.

"The use of explosive weapons in populated areas risks severe harm to civilians, especially children, and should be avoided at all costs. As well as children being killed, losing loved ones and homes, children are being terrified by seeing missiles fired across the skies, hearing air raids, and told to stay away from windows and inside. Save the Children calls on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and prioritize the protection of civilian life.

"Children always bear the brunt of any violence. Children are the first and most impacted by any conflict. Any war is a war on children."

Save the Children calls for immediate de-escalation, the protection of civilians — especially children — and unfettered humanitarian access in all affected areas.

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