New york: One civilian was killed approximately every 14 minutes in conflict zones worldwide in 2025, with civilians, including children, dying in their homes, markets, workplaces, schools, on roads and while attempting to flee in search of safety, the United Nations said.

According to Qatar News Agency, Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division for OCHA, highlighted during a briefing to the Security Council the devastating impact of explosive weapons in towns and cities. These weapons not only result in loss of life but also damage critical infrastructure such as power grids, water networks, schools, and hospitals.

Wosornu emphasized that civilians are often directly targeted in conflicts rather than being unintended casualties. The UN documented over 1,350 attacks on medical facilities across 18 conflicts globally over the past year, underscoring the vulnerability of non-combatants in war zones.

The briefing also addressed the escalating hunger crisis in 2025, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. Approximately 147 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, a figure driven by conflict-related disruptions. Wosornu mentioned that two famine situations have been confirmed recently, not due to food shortages, but as a consequence of conflict tactics like blockades and hindrances to humanitarian aid delivery.