Children in Conflict and Displacement: Myanmar Airstrike, Mozambique Crisis, and the Push for Affordable Mobile Internet

An airstrike on a school used as a shelter in Loikaw Township, Kayah state, killed three children and wounded five others, according to UNICEF. The same week, an attack on a temporary health facility in Rakhine state resulted in the death of a newborn baby and several health workers. UNICEF described the incidents as stark reminders that children are bearing the brunt of the conflict that erupted after the 2021 coup. The agency called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and take every possible measure to protect children in conflict zones.

Since late September, more than 7,000 people have fled fresh violence in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, according to the International Organization for Migration. Women and children make up nearly 80% of the latest arrivals, many of whom are joining communities already hosting over 205,000 displaced persons, more than half of whom are children. In the most recent two‑week period, the displaced include 87 pregnant women, 58 older adults, 18 persons with disabilities and four unaccompanied children. Food is the most urgent need for 88% of those assessed, followed by shelter and healthcare, prompting IOM to provide emergency supplies while warning that funding shortfalls are stretching the response.

The International Telecommunication Union reported that mobile internet has become affordable for the first time in landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, with median prices falling below the 2% of average income benchmark. This milestone arrives as global connectivity reaches 6.3 billion people, or 76% of the world’s population, while 2 billion people remain offline. Despite the progress, prices in the least‑developed countries still average 6.1% of income, and only four percent of people in low‑income economies have access to 5G networks. The ITU stresses that expanding meaningful connectivity is essential for education, employment and broader development opportunities.