The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has “taken a devastating toll” on the well-being of thousands of children in southern Lebanon, where over 70 schools have closed, according to a new report from UNICEF, which calls for an “immediate ceasefire.”
According to the report titled “Caught in the Crossfire: The Impact of Six Months of Conflict on Children in Lebanon,” more than 92,000 people, almost a third of them children, have been displaced since October 8, when Hezbollah opened the southern front in support of Hamas’ war in Gaza.
Furthermore, 344 people, including eight children, have been killed, while 1,359 have been injured, including 75 children. The report also states that 20,000 students have been affected by the partial or total closure of 72 schools, and 4,000 children have been impacted by the closure of 27 healthcare centers. Additionally, 100,000 people do not have safe drinking water due to damaged and destroyed water facilities.
UNICEF highlights the emotional impact of the conflict on children and their families, expressing concern over “alarming levels of psychological distress” caused by displacement, bombings and relentless shelling and air raids.
According to the report, in the South Governorate of Lebanon, 46% of parents and caregivers reported that their children were experiencing anxiety, while 29% reported depression. In the Nabatiyeh district, 46% of parents and caregivers reported anxiety and 33% reported depression.
Among Palestinian parents and caregivers across the entire territory, 47% of children exhibited anxiety, while 30% reported feelings of depression, as stated in the document.
“We call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of children and civilians,” said Edouard Beigbeder, the Lebanon representative for UNICEF, in a statement.
Otherwise, “Lebanon risks a large-scale war that would have a devastating impact on the country’s 1.3 million children,” concluded the report.
