Children and Blast Injuries: The Devastating Impact of Explosive Weapons on Children, 2020–2025

Across multiple conflicts today, explosive weapons are the defining threat to children. Evidence shows these weapons pose an even greater risk to children than adults. The Children and Blast Injuries report identifies emerging trends in warfare that are reshaping childhood – including profiles of 11 contemporary conflicts, outlines key clinical findings from research and field engagement, highlighting the medical realities of paediatric blast injury and innovations to improve care and reviews the current international framework to protect children from explosive weapons. Drawing on its findings, this report closes with a set of clear calls for urgent action to prevent attacks, protect children and invest in their recovery.