'Israel' killed 300 children, wounded 1,500 in aggression on Lebanon
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UNICEF reported that 310 children have been killed and over 1,500 injured in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes.
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Displaced children, who fled Baalbek city and the nearby towns of Douris and Ain Bourday with their families amid the war on Lebanon, play at a school being used as a shelter, in Deir Al-Ahmar, east Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024 (AP)
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday that 310 children were killed and more than 1,500 others injured in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes since the start of the aggression.
The findings were presented by UNICEF's Deputy Representative in Lebanon, Ettie Higgins, during a weekly UN press briefing in Geneva. The report painted a grim picture of child malnutrition, particularly in Baalbek and Bekaa, which have remained densely populated despite repeated airstrikes.
According to UNICEF, 51% of children under the age of two in these areas suffer from severe food insecurity, more than double the rate recorded a year ago.
The report also highlighted the deteriorating living conditions for families, with 80% requiring urgent assistance. Nearly half of households have been forced to reduce spending on healthcare, while 30% cut back on education costs to afford basic necessities.
The crisis has also affected access to essential resources, with 31% of families lacking sufficient drinking water, 33% unable to obtain necessary medications for their children, and 22% left without heating during the winter months.
UNICEF also warned of declining international aid, stating that its humanitarian funding for Lebanon had dropped since 2023, with only 26% of its 2025 appeals met so far.
The war has further deepened Lebanon’s education crisis, with 500,000 children now out of school, even after ceasefires. At the time of the latest survey, one in four children (25%) remained out of school, as many educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of schools have also been repurposed as shelters for the 1.3 million people displaced by the Israeli aggression.
Continuous aggression
The Israeli occupation forces have withdrawn from southern Lebanese villages but maintain a presence in certain border points and continue military operations, including artillery fire, airstrikes, and the demolition of homes and civilian infrastructure in border areas. Detentions of farmers and civilian casualties have also been reported.
As of 23 January 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 112,076 people remain displaced within Lebanon, with the majority originating from five districts:
- Bint Jbeil: 40%
- Sour (Tyre): 22%
- Nabatieh: 11%
- Marjaayoun: 10%
- Baabda (Beirut Southern Suburbs): 6%
While 874,949 individuals have returned to their homes, ongoing hostilities and restrictions impede further returns and recovery efforts.
