ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The United Nations on Friday said thousands of children are killed or seriously wounded on an annual basis as weapons designed for open battlefields are increasingly used in populated areas.

In 2024, explosive weapons were the cause of 70 percent of child casualties across 26 counties, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

“Every year, thousands of children are killed, seriously injured or have their lives severely altered – during armed conflict and long after hostilities have ended. As armed conflicts have increasingly been fought in cities, towns, villages, and other populated areas, weapons originally designed for use in the open battlefield are increasingly being used in populated areas, posing a considerable threat to civilians – particularly children,” UNICEF said.

“When used in populated areas, explosive weapons often have long-lasting effects well beyond the immediate harm. Widespread destruction of essential infrastructure and contamination by explosive remnants, for example, deprive families of essential civilian services, such as water and sanitation, electricity, health care and education,” it continued.

UNICEF also highlighted the trauma surviving children go through after bombardment. They endure distress or post-traumatic stress disorders such as constant fear, anxiety, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, nightmares, withdrawal, and loss of appetite which interfere with their physical and cognitive development.

Also, physically injured children require different treatment than adults and are often less likely to receive treatment in areas with less resources.

The UN called on signatories of the Political Declaration on the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas to abide by their commitments, and urged member states and non-members to sign the declaration. Additionally, it said states should provide sustained financial support for programs that protect children from explosives and refrain from providing them to governments likely to use them against civilians.