War Child UK

19/09/2026

Thank you to Middle East Eye for speaking to War Child's Head of Humanitarian, Kieran King, about the devastating impact the war on Gaza has had on the education and mental health of children.

As children around the world return to school, hundreds of thousands more in Gaza face another year of lost learning and the safe space school offers. School is "critical to the recovery of children in conflict because it's where they're able to share that trauma, recover from that trauma, be with their peers, play and connect,” explains Kieran.

Children in Gaza need safety, protection, education and specialist mental health support to begin to recover from the trauma they have endured.

The international community must ensure the protection of children, uphold their rights, and enable their return to education, allowing the next generation to rebuild their futures.

10/09/2026

After 11 years of conflict, children in Yemen are once again facing some of the deadliest fighting in years.

Renewed clashes in Taiz and Al Hodeidah, in the west of the country, have already displaced 1,790 households, forcing 18,500 people from their homes in just 72 hours.

But the danger facing children extends beyond the immediate fighting. More children were killed by landmines and unexploded weapons in the first six months of 2026 than in the whole of 2025, showing how dangerous daily life has become for children.

War Child and our local partner, Benaa Charity for Human Development are responding to the urgent needs of affected children and families, providing lifesaving items and support for their wellbeing and protection, as well as helping them access essential services.

But needs are increasing by the day as more people flee the violence.

War Child is demanding immediate action to protect children and civilians in Yemen, uphold International Humanitarian Law and urgently increase and sustain funding for the protection, education and mental health services children need.

09/09/2026

War Child UK welcomes the Foreign Secretary’s announcement to ban trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank as a positive step towards strengthening the UK’s compliance with international law and protecting children from harm.

Ongoing violence and instability has a profound impact on children’s safety, wellbeing and mental health. Whilst more action is needed, this is a important shift in the UK's approach to the protection of children.

09/09/2026

08/09/2026

Jonathan Glazer’s new film ‘Joy Of Joys’ - filmed during the creation of War Child Records' Mercury Prize nominated ‘HELP(2)’ - will have its UK Premiere at this year’s BFI London Film Festival in October. Read more: https://bit.ly/4A2GZSC

Produced by Academy Films and recorded at Abbey Road Studios over the course of three days, ‘Joy of Joys’ documents the creation of the ‘HELP(2)’ record, alongside footage captured by children living in warzones across Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen.

This project is the result of a tireless effort from the most generous people in film and music coming together to support War Child's work to protect, educate and stand up for children affected by conflict.

Devised by Jonathan Glazer and Mica Levi
Produced by Medb Riordan and Steve Overs
Executive Producers - Simon Cooper, Scott Wright, James Wilson, Emma Greengrass, Ian McAndrew, Rich Clarke

No child should be part of war. Ever.

28/08/2026

While millions of children around the world prepare to return to school, millions more across the Middle East are being denied something every child has a right to: an education.

In Lebanon, years of crisis and conflict have disrupted children’s education - with the latest escalation creating even more barriers to learning.

As War Child Education Officer Laura explains: “Many children lack consistent environments and access to education, making it hard for them to focus on learning while dealing with fear, anxiety and exhaustion.”

Education offers children stability, routine and hope. That’s why War Child is launching a new education programme in northern Lebanon, to establish learning hubs, introduce Can’t Wait To Learn - our digital learning programme - alongside mental health support, play and games, and support for teachers and caregivers.

But this work alone can’t meet the scale of need. Lebanon’s emergency education response still needs an estimated £7 million. Governments must fully fund the immediate response and invest beyond this school year, so children can recover lost learning and rebuild their futures.

Every child has the right to an education. That right must be protected.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/3UdkYAq

19/08/2026

Children need people who can be there when the world around them is falling apart.

In conflict or crisis, humanitarian workers are often the first to arrive, last to leave and the people children and families turn to in their most difficult moments.

But increasingly, humanitarian workers are facing the same dangers as the communities they support.

Mohamed works for one of our local partners in Gaza. He says: “The humanitarian worker does not stand outside the crisis, but lives it with his community, and yet he chooses to continue.”

In 2025, 350 aid workers were killed, making it the second-deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers.

This World Humanitarian Day, we call on states and parties to conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law: respect and protect humanitarian staff, ensure safe and sustained humanitarian access, and protect aid workers from attack and intimidation.

When we protect them, we protect children too.

Read more:

Humanitarian workers stand beside children through conflict but protecting those who serve others is essential to protecting the children and communities who depend on them.

15/08/2026

Today marks five years since the change in power in Afghanistan. Five years on, the world’s attention may have moved on, but for millions of children, the crises continue. And survival cannot be the finishing line.

More than 11.6 million children need humanitarian assistance, facing hunger, displacement, poverty, interrupted education and protection risks.

Soudaba is one of them. A health condition put huge financial pressure on her family and placed her older sister at risk of child marriage. With support from War Child, her family could afford her treatment and start earning a stable income by raising goats and chickens. Her sister is now at less risk of child marriage, and Soudaba has hopes for the future - she dreams of becoming a teacher.

With local partners, we’re helping children and families meet their immediate needs while building resilience for the future. But Afghanistan’s children need more than survival. They need the chance to recover, learn, feel safe and build the futures they imagine - with sustained support, even when the crisis is no longer in the headlines.

🔗 Read more about the situation for children in Afghanistan today, and how War Child and our local partners are supporting them:

15 August marks five years since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan took power. Five years on, children across Afghanistan are still living through overlapping crises, threats to their safety and wellbeing, and are being denied the opportunities they need to recover and build a future.