Geneva Palais briefing note: Caught in the Crossfire – Lebanon’s children under fire

GENEVA, 30 April 2024 – “A new report from UNICEF in Lebanon underscores the deepening suffering of children in the country, as Lebanon grapples with a cascade of crises, compounded by conflict.

“The report, Caught in the Crossfire: The Impact of Six Months of Conflict on Children in Lebanon, finds a surge in humanitarian needs across Lebanon, on the back of air strikes that have progressively hit deeper into a country already suffering protracted economic and political crisis.

“UNICEF has previously warned of Lebanon’s unrelenting, overlapping emergencies and their impact on children and education. Today these are compounded by almost daily airstrikes. Together with those children killed and scores injured, 30,000 children have been displaced. Infrastructure that children rely on is being destroyed, including significant damage to water stations, thus denying 100,000 people access to safe drinking water. Around 23 healthcare facilities - serving 4,000 people - are also closed due to the hostilities. Should the conflict continue to escalate, UNICEF warns that the repercussions for children will be devastating.

“The current conflict has aggravated a pre-existing education crisis in Lebanon. Even before the current conflict, over 700,000 children were out of school and not learning. And today in southern Lebanon, the recent violence has caused more than 70 schools to be closed as well.

“As a consequence of the ongoing economic crisis, it is estimated that more than half of the Lebanese population is living below the poverty line, while an estimated 90 per cent of Syrian refugee households live in extreme poverty.

“Combined, the situation is also having a profound toll on the mental health and physical well-being of children and their families, with alarming levels of psychological distress reported. Reports of anxiety and trauma have surged - not only due to displacement but also in response to the relentless shelling and air raids. Among Palestinian parents and caregivers across Lebanon, almost one in two children - 47 per cent - express anxiety.

“The report also offers an overview of UNICEF’s results for children amid this current crisis. But even with our greatest efforts, a permanent ceasefire is essential. Without that, Lebanon is at risk of a full-scale war which would have a devastating impact on the 1.3 million children living in the country, as well as the rest of the children in the region.”

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