Archive · 5 Jan 2026
World Day of War Orphans: History and Significance
World Day of War Orphans is a special day on 6 January every year.
It's for remembering and helping children who lost their parents because of wars.
These kids face many hard times, like not having enough food, friends, or love.
The day is to make people aware of their struggles and to ask for help to make their lives better.
There are about 140 million orphans around the world, with many in Africa, Asia, and other places.
A long time ago, after World War II, many children in Europe became orphans.
The day was started by a group in France to help these children.
World Day of War Orphans is observed annually on 6 January to highlight the struggles of children who lost their parents during war or armed conflicts.
The day emphasizes the physical, social, and psychological challenges faced by war orphans and the need for protection, care, and rehabilitation.
UNICEF estimates that about 140 million children worldwide are orphans, with significant numbers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Central Asia.
The day was launched by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresse to draw international attention to the plight of war orphans.
Historical accounts show that the Second World War left millions of children orphaned across Europe, with Poland and Yugoslavia reporting about 300,000 and 200,000 orphans, respectively.
- Who
- Children who lost their parents during war or armed conflicts
- What
- A day to raise awareness about the struggles of war orphans
- When
- 6 January annually
- Where
- Globally
- Why
- To highlight the physical, social, and psychological challenges faced by war orphans and to emphasize the need for protection, care, and rehabilitation
- Date
- 6 January
- Founded by
- SOS Enfants en Détresse (French organisation)
- Total Orphans Worldwide
- 140 million
- Orphans in Africa
- 52 million
- Orphans in Latin America and the Caribbean
- 10 million
- Orphans in Central Asia
- 7.3 million
- Orphans in Asia
- 61 million
- Orphans in Poland after WWII
- 300,000
- Orphans in Yugoslavia after WWII
- 200,000