The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has drastically impacted the humanitarian situation, particularly for children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals in a recent report that more than one in five Lebanese households surveyed have children who have gone to bed hungry. This alarming statistic underscores the severe toll on children’s access to fundamental needs like food, healthcare, and education.
The report, titled “An Enduring Nightmare,” involved a telephone survey of 3,016 respondents across Lebanon, capturing the harsh realities faced in a conflict zone. The UN human rights office had previously raised concerns about Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which have destroyed homes and infrastructure, potentially violating international humanitarian law by attacking civilian targets.
Health systems have also been significantly affected, with UNICEF documenting that since March 2, 135 healthcare workers have been killed and 416 injured. Furthermore, 17 hospitals have suffered damage, further straining the country’s ability to provide essential services. The economic crisis compounds these challenges, as 82 percent of households are finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic necessities. Shockingly, nearly one in three families reported having to forgo necessary healthcare for their children due to cost, with child labor also on the rise.
Tragically, the conflict since March 2 has resulted in the death of at least 261 children, with 1,056 injured, illustrating the ongoing dangers facing the youth. The educational landscape is equally dire, with 436 schools damaged or destroyed, threatening the educational future of around 100,000 children. Although violence reduced after an April ceasefire, the region continues to experience disruptions, particularly in southern Lebanon where Israeli airstrikes persist.
The crisis prompted organizations like Save the Children to warn about the looming threat of food insecurity affecting over 380,000 children in Lebanon. The World Hunger Education Service cites the escalation in violence and sharp increases in food prices as critical factors exacerbating the situation. Before the conflict, more than a third of Lebanese children were already anaemic, a figure surely aggravated by the current challenges.
Amid these dire circumstances, UNICEF is actively seeking $388.5 million to aid two million people, including 700,000 children, but as of July 31, this appeal was only 54 percent funded. UNICEF Lebanon Representative Marcoluigi Corsi emphasized the urgency of action to prevent a generation from bearing lifelong scars due to this crisis.