Children in Lebanon have felt the crushing anxiety of war for months.
Now our worst nightmare is becoming a reality. Children are being killed, injured and uprooted from their homes. Since October 2023, the escalating violence has resulted in the death of 2,141 people and 10,099 people injured, this includes around 127 children killed.
1.2 million people, including 420,000 children, have fled their homes as a result of the increasing insecurities. Many of those fleeing are already vulnerable, including women, children and refugee populations who have already been displaced for months.
345,000 children in the south of Lebanon are in grave danger of loss of life, physical harm, and severe emotional distress following a ground incursion of the south of Lebanon by Israeli forces. The majority of schools have closed, impacting 1.5 million children of which 400,000 are out of school altogether.
Airstrikes across multiple densely populated areas in Lebanon have left children and families killed, injured and fleeing for their lives. Nowhere is safe in Lebanon.
Children in Lebanon were already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis driven by economic collapse, political instability and ongoing conflict. More than half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance for basic needs.
Violence is costing human lives – and as always, children are bearing the greatest brunt.
We urgently call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering, ensure safe humanitarian access, and stop the conflict from escalating further across the region.
Thinking of home and what is has become, makes me cry. Sometimes I worry I won’t be able to remember what it looked like – Samer, 13 years old from Southern Lebanon.
Help provide critical support to children in Lebanon and around the world by donating to our Children’s Emergency Fund.
Our response.
Save the Children has been working in Lebanon since 1953, helping children survive, learn and stay safe. We are responding to ongoing needs, particularly for those who have been displaced by the escalation of violence in southern Lebanon.
Since October 2023, we’ve supported more than 100,000 people including 40,000 children with:
- Safe shelters with recreational activities to help children process traumatic experiences.
- Cash to buy essentials like food, warm clothing and medicines.
- Food and hygiene kits.
- Learning support.
- Mental Health Support.
- Access to clean water and washing facilities.
We stand ready to scale up our response to the escalating situation. But we need your help to do this. With additional funds, we plan to:
- Distribute essential relief items, like bottled water, toiletries, blankets pillows, mattresses and solar lights.
- Distribute food parcels, cash to buy essentials and play materials for children.
- Establish Child Protection Information Help Desks.
- Provision of education in emergencies and child protection in emergencies activities.
- Set up family tracing and reunification services.
- Provide psychological first aid and train local responders and community members in basic mental health support.