Children in Lebanon are facing severe injuries from strikes and shrapnel amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a spokesperson for the United Nations Children agency. The toll of the conflict has significantly increased in recent weeks, with a devastating impact on the children in terms of casualties, injuries, and displacement.
UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram highlighted that children in Lebanon are bearing the brunt of the violence, with many sustaining physical and psychological scars of war. The most common injuries among children are shrapnel wounds, along with brain injuries, concussions, and limb injuries caused by blasts. Additionally, children are experiencing anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks due to the traumatic events.
Israel's attacks on Hezbollah have resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals in Lebanon, as reported by the country's health ministry, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis. UNICEF has documented more than 690 children wounded in Lebanon over the past six weeks, with over 400,000 children displaced from their homes as families seek safety from the strikes.
The displacement of people extends beyond southern Lebanon to the southern suburbs of Beirut, where intense airstrikes have been ongoing, particularly during nighttime and increasingly during the day. Lebanese authorities have indicated that over 1.2 million individuals have been displaced since the escalation of fighting last month, with many seeking temporary shelter in schools across the country.
