Children in humanitarian settings

The number of women and children trapped in humanitarian settings have reached unprecedented levels. In 2018, over 133 million people in 41 countries were affected by conflicts, disease outbreaks and natural disasters and needed humanitarian assistance. In such settings, young children often receive suboptimal nutrition and have limited access to quality health services.

Approximately 50% of maternal, newborn and U5 mortality presently occur in humanitarian settings, and children who survive often are unable to thrive, or even experience neglect and maltreatment. Furthermore, mothers, fathers, or other caregivers living in conflict and displacement experience insecurity, trauma, stress and anxiety, a sense of hopelessness, and depression, which hinder them from attending to, and positively engaging with, their children.

The increasing number of mothers and children affected by humanitarian crises, and their higher mortality risk, underscore the necessity for health services to address the immediate and longer-term needs of infant and child survival, health and development in humanitarian settings.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require sustainable delivery of effective interventions in such settings.