Almost 36 million children were forced to leave their homes in 2020 fleeing violence, armed conflicts, poverty and natural disasters, of which more than 20 million are displaced in their own countries, the SOS Children’s Villages organization.
On the occasion of International Migrants Day, the organization has warned that almost 12 million children who have fled their homes are refugees and 1.3 million are asylum seekers, while it has recalled that “the best interests of each child must guide all actions that affect them. ” Natural disasters, on the other hand, have left almost three million children homeless.
In these displacements, children face an extreme risk of separation from their families, loss of loved ones, violence, hunger and lack of access to medical services and education, SOS Children’s Villages lamented in a statement, before recalling that ” they are exposed to high levels of stress before their departure, during their journey and upon arrival at their destination, “which increases the likelihood that their mental health will be affected.
“Boys and girls have the right to protection, care and education, and to grow up with their loved ones whenever possible, regardless of their immigration status or personal or family circumstances,” the organization indicated in the document.
In this context, the organization has called on all governments to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of displaced minors, who are often violated, while stressing that protecting them is an obligation, included in the international law, which cannot be subject to negotiation.
