Children at risk as war zone attacks on water and sanitation more than triple

Attacks damaging or destroying water and sanitation systems in conflict zones more than tripled between 2021 and 2025, according to new figures that highlight the growing exposure of children to disease outbreaks, malnutrition and violence. The findings underscore how the destruction of basic infrastructure has become a defining feature of modern warfare, with knock-on effects for public health and household welfare in affected regions. The trend matters because safe water access underpins child survival, and repeated damage forces families and aid agencies to shoulder rising costs for emergency supplies and repairs. Watch for updated counts and funding appeals from humanitarian groups as they assess needs in the hardest-hit areas.