More than 400,000 children in Lebanon have been displaced in the past three weeks as Israel intensifies its campaign against Hezbollah, according to a UNICEF official. Ted Chaiban, deputy executive director for humanitarian actions at UNICEF, highlighted the severe impact on the education system, stating that 1.2 million children are currently deprived of schooling due to damaged or inaccessible public schools, which are often being used as shelters. Chaiban emphasized the urgent need to prevent a lost generation in Lebanon.
The ongoing fighting has also severely affected access to healthcare, rendering many primary health facilities non-operational. Currently, 12 hospitals are either fully or partially out of service, raising concerns for vulnerable populations, especially pregnant women. Tess Ingram, UNICEF spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa, expressed alarm over the potential consequences for expectant mothers who often lose their support systems during conflicts, jeopardizing prenatal care and safe deliveries.
Following a year of cross-border skirmishes with Hezbollah, Israel has escalated its military actions, including a ground invasion. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 2,300 fatalities, with nearly three-quarters of those occurring in the past month.
