A UNICEF spokesperson has spoken out about the deteriorating situation for children in Lebanon under Israeli attacks, warning that prolonging the war with limited aid would be catastrophic for displaced children in Lebanon.
The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the outbreak of the latest round of Hezbollah-Israeli conflict on Oct. 8, 2023 has reached 2,367, while the number of injuries has gone up to 11,088, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Israeli military continued its strikes against Hezbollah militants and other targets in Lebanon on Wednesday, while Israeli forces carried out attacks in areas including Nabatieh governorate in southern Lebanon on the same day.
Among those affected, children have borne the brunt of the conflict, which has dramatically escalated between Israel and Hezbollah across Lebanon in recent days.
More than 690 children have reportedly been injured in Lebanon over the past six weeks. The most common injuries they suffered include concussions and traumatic brain injuries from the impact of blasts, shrapnel wounds, limb injuries, and hearing loss, according to a statement by UNICEF.
UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram, speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), emphasized that a staggering number of children have been forced to flee their homes.
"We estimate that about 400,000 children have been displaced, which is many football stadiums full of children that are now living outside their homes without blankets or mattresses or water in some cases. So that's what we're bringing to them. We're also delivering supplies to villages where people have chosen to remain. So our response is very broad. Firstly, we're helping children in shelters and on the streets by giving them the essential supplies that they need after being displaced. We've supported more than 250 shelters we know that has reached more than 60,000 people, and then of course our outreach to smaller towns, that's thousands more people. And then we've also delivered 167 tons of medical supplies," she said.
In speaking of the challenges UNICEF faces in Lebanon, Ingram said it is increasingly difficult to deliver supplies to Lebanon.
"The biggest challenge at the moment is making sure we can buy and fly-in or truck-in more supplies. Of course many airlines canceled flights into Lebanon, so that's a bit of challenge. And of course, reaching hard-to-reach areas like Marjeoun, that took us hours yesterday. Access challenges are becoming an issue as well. When the needs in the country escalate from 100,000 to 1.2 million like they did here in the space of eight days, that's going to challenge even the most robust humanitarian response," said the spokesperson.
The fear of disease is one of the main concerns of the organization, as it impacts children's health in particular.
"We're concerned at the moment about the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis, because when water systems and health services are interrupted or destroyed in some way, that can impact children's access to safe water. If it escalated any further that would definitely be catastrophic for children and we're trying to prevent that," Ingram said.
She also called for more support from the donors and the international community as challenges mount.
"We're fundraising, so we've launched an emergency appeal for U.S. 105 million dollars, and at the moment we've received nine million. So we're really appealing for more supports so that we can continue to buy and fly in these supplies that are so needed at the moment for the children of Lebanon. We've been working with China for many years as UNICEF, we have an office there and we're always grateful for the support of the people and the government of China. So we really do appeal to anyone that's hearing this in China to get behind the efforts because the children of Lebanon need support more now than ever," the spokesperson said.
Conflict in Lebanon rapidly becoming dire threat to children's livelihoods: UNICEF spokesperson
Conflict in Lebanon rapidly becoming dire threat to children's livelihoods: UNICEF spokesperson
