Escalation in Lebanon: children among main victims

The UN agency for children, UNICEF, says at least 83 children have been killed and 254 injured in Lebanon since March 2 as the war between Israel and Hezbollah intensified, Al Jazeera reports.

“On average, more than 10 children have been killed every day across Lebanon over the past week, with approximately 36 children injured each day,” the statement published on the UNICEF website said on Monday. “In the last 28 months, 329 children have reportedly been killed in Lebanon and 1,632 were injured,” it added.

“These figures are staggering. They are a stark testament to the toll that conflict is taking on children,” the agency said. “Mass displacement across Lebanon has forced nearly 700,000 people – including around 200,000 children – from their homes, adding to the tens of thousands already uprooted from previous escalations.”

The agency called on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and shelters, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

“UNICEF urges immediate efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further harm to children,” the statement concluded.