President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca called upon UN member states and entities to protect children, noting that nearly one child in four was living in areas affected by conflict or disaster.

Ms Coleiro Preca insisted solutions needed to be provided urgently.

“Without an adequate response from the international community, the objective of preventing violations against children will never be reached,” she said.

Speaking on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Ms Coleiro Preca called on states to implement effective reintegration strategies for all displaced children.

"States and the international community cannot continue to be complacent and fail to provide for effective child protection and reintegration", the President said.

She also noted that there were 30 million children that had been isolated and stranded by conflict.

"They need protection now and a sustainable solution over the long term," Ms Coleiro Preca said.

"It is important to avoid leaving children without access to education for extended periods of time, as this will make it more difficult to reintegrate them in their original or new community," Ms Coleiro Preca added.