The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that 400,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon in the last three weeks. Since the beginning of the attacks, a total of 1.2 million people have been displaced. In the past three weeks, 26 water reservoirs providing water to around 350,000 people have been damaged. Due to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, people continue to migrate to the capital city of Beirut and northwards.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban and World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau visited a school in the eastern city of Zahle in Lebanon where families displaced by conflicts were staying. Chaiban stated that violence has dramatically increased in Lebanon in the last three weeks, affecting all children and turning the conflict into a war.
Since the beginning of the attacks in Lebanon, 400,000 of those displaced have been children out of a total 1.2 million. Chaiban mentioned that some of the displaced families and children have settled with relatives while others are staying in shelters.
Chaiban noted that children staying in UN centers receive psychological support. He emphasized that the real need of the country is to stop the violation of human rights, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and secure a ceasefire. Chaiban said, “As we sit here today, 1.2 million children have been deprived of education. State schools have either become inaccessible, been damaged due to war, or are being used as shelters. The last thing this country needs on top of everything it is going through is the risk of a lost generation.” Chaiban expressed concern that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian children are at risk of losing their education, staying in overcrowded schools where three or four families share a classroom and 1,000 people use 12 toilets.
Also, due to the attacks, more than 100 health centers have been incapacitated, 12 hospitals are unable to provide service, or are partially open. Chaiban mentioned that the water infrastructure has also been targeted in the attacks, with around 26 water reservoirs providing water to approximately 350,000 people being damaged in the last three weeks. In a joint statement, Chaiban and Skau stated, “All parties must prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. This includes safeguarding schools, hospitals, water systems, and ensuring safe passage for civilians fleeing conflict areas. No child should be exposed to the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in residential areas.” The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that since October 8, 2023, the number of casualties in Israeli attacks has reached 2,309 and 10,782 have been injured.