- Over 400,000 children displaced in Lebanon as conflict with Israel intensifies.
- 1.2 million people forced from homes; schools and healthcare facilities hit hard.
- UNICEF warns of a “lost generation” due to disrupted education and trauma.
In the past three weeks, Lebanon has seen the displacement of more than 400,000 children as Israel escalates its campaign against Hezbollah.
The ongoing violence has also severely affected essential services, with over 100 primary healthcare centers shut down and water infrastructure damaged.
Lebanon’s Children at Risk Amid Rising Conflict with Israel
The war between Israel and Hezbollah has devastated Lebanon, displacing over 400,000 children and leaving millions vulnerable. UNICEF has reported that children are crammed into makeshift shelters, with several families often sharing small classrooms divided by plastic sheets. The psychological toll is immense, as many children live in fear, traumatized by the constant sounds of shelling and gunfire.
Lebanon’s public education system is on the brink of collapse, with more than 1.2 million children unable to attend school. Public schools have been damaged or converted into shelters, further straining resources. While private schools remain open, they are inaccessible to the majority of the population, including vulnerable Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
Healthcare facilities have also been targeted, with 12 hospitals no longer fully operational. Damage to water stations has affected nearly 350,000 people, further complicating relief efforts. Local authorities, with support from UNICEF, are working to repair vital infrastructure, but the needs far exceed available resources.
UNICEF is calling for a ceasefire and an immediate focus on humanitarian relief. The agency’s emergency response appeal has only received 8% of its $108 million target, highlighting the critical funding gap as the situation worsens. Chaiban stressed that without global intervention, the country risks a “lost generation.”
The situation in Lebanon is dire, and the international community must urgently rally to prevent further devastation. Immediate humanitarian aid and a ceasefire are essential to protect the country’s most vulnerable—its children.
“The last thing this country needs, in addition to everything else it has gone through, is the risk of a lost generation.” – Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director
