At least 83 children have been killed and 254 others injured in Lebanon over the past seven days as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified, according to the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF.
In a statement released on Monday, UNICEF said the figures cover the period since 2 March, highlighting the severe impact of the conflict on children across the country.
The agency reported that more than 10 children have been killed each day on average, while around 36 children are being injured daily as hostilities continue.
UNICEF described the situation as deeply alarming, noting that the latest casualties add to a growing toll on children since the conflict began escalating in recent years.
Over the past 28 months, a total of 329 children have reportedly lost their lives in Lebanon, while 1,632 others have been injured, according to the agency.
“These numbers are staggering and reflect the devastating consequences of armed conflict on children,” UNICEF said in its statement.
The ongoing violence has also triggered widespread displacement across Lebanon. UNICEF estimates that nearly 7 lakh people, including about 2 lakh children, have been forced to flee their homes. Many of these families were already struggling after being displaced during previous waves of conflict.
The agency warned that the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly fragile as displaced families face shortages of shelter, healthcare and other basic services.
UNICEF urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and take immediate steps to protect civilians, particularly children. The organisation also called for the protection of critical civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and shelters.
Emphasising the urgent need for restraint, UNICEF appealed for immediate efforts to de-escalate the violence and prevent further harm to children caught in the conflict.
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