UNICEF reports over 200 child deaths amid Lebanon-Israel escalation
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The United Nations has revealed a devastating toll on children in Lebanon, with over 200 killed since Israel intensified its attacks on Hezbollah targets in September.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, emphasizing that the violence is having a profound impact on children.
"On average, three children have been killed every day in Lebanon over the past two months," Elder said during a press briefing. He added that more than 1,100 children had been injured, many severely traumatized, and countless others displaced.
The conflict, which reignited after Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza last October, has led to severe consequences for civilians in Lebanon. Israeli bombing campaigns have largely targeted Hezbollah strongholds but have also struck areas beyond the group’s influence.
Since September, Lebanese authorities have reported that over 3,500 people have been killed, with a significant portion of fatalities being children. Elder compared the violence in Lebanon to the devastation seen in Gaza, noting "chilling similarities" in the impact on children, including homelessness, and attacks on critical infrastructure, and medical facilities.
"Medical workers are being killed, and hospitals are being damaged at an alarming rate," Elder said, citing Lebanese figures of over 200 health workers killed and 300 injured as of mid-November.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has also been affected by the conflict. Andrea Tenenti, UNIFIL’s spokesperson, reported "deliberate" attacks on their positions by Israeli forces, resulting in 162 impacts over the past 13 months, including more than 20 injuries to peacekeepers. Despite the challenges, Tenenti affirmed that UNIFIL continues to monitor and assist communities in southern Lebanon.
Elder expressed frustration at the lack of a meaningful global response to the escalating violence, warning that the suffering of children in Lebanon is being met with alarming indifference. "The intolerable is quietly transforming into the acceptable," he said, urging immediate action to prevent further loss of life.