Lebanon: Children Remain at Risk Despite Ceasefire

Country: Lebanon Source: Qatar Charity Please refer to the attached file. According to UNICEF, at least 23 children have been killed and 93 injured since the ceasefire took effect earlier this year. These figures reflect a broader deterioration in conditions affecting children since the escalation of hostilities in March, where UNICEF reports that the total number of child casualties in Lebanon has reached 1, 006, including 200 children killed and 806 injured, equivalent to nearly 14 children killed or injured every day. ( https: //www. unicef. org/press-releases/least-59-children-reportedly-killedor-injured-lebanon-past-week-despite-ceasefire ) For many families, the consequences extend beyond immediate physical harm. Repeated displacement, interruptions to education, psychological distress, overcrowded shelter conditions, and reduced access to healthcare and protection services are compounding existing vulnerabilities in a country already affected by years of economic crisis and institutional strain. Abbas Zein, a child displaced by the conflict and supported through Qatar Charity’s response, described the uncertainty facing many families: “Every day feels like a year. Each day, we think we will finally return home, but we don’t. The war never seems to end. ” Since the escalation began, Qatar Charity (QC), with support from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), has implemented emergency interventions targeting displaced and vulnerable populations across several areas in Lebanon. Earlier this year, QC launched a multi-sector emergency response valued at approximately US$2. 35 million to support communities affected by ongoing hostilities and displacement. The response includes shelter assistance, food aid, healthcare services, relief supplies, and other essential humanitarian support targeting more than 40, 500 displaced families across affected areas. The intervention includes a direct contribution of approximately US$400, 000 from QFFD, while QC mobilized the remaining funding through its emergency response mechanisms and donor-supported humanitarian programs. Humanitarian assistance has continued in coordination with Lebanese authorities and humanitarian partners. Over the past weeks, distributions included food parcels, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and other relief items for displaced families in Sidon and shelter centres in Beirut. An initial phase supported 750 displaced families hosted in nine schools used as collective shelters in Beirut, followed by additional distributions in Sidon targeting displaced families living outside formal shelter centres. At the same time, humanitarian organizations operating in Lebanon continue to face the challenge of responding to immediate emergency needs while supporting increasingly overstretched communities and public services. The situation also highlights a wider concern increasingly raised by humanitarian agencies: temporary ceasefires or reductions in hostilities do not necessarily translate into meaningful protection for children. Recent statements by UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations indicate that children continue to face grave risks even during periods o@icially described as ceasefires. Save the Children recently reported that more than four children have been killed or injured on average each day in Lebanon since the temporary ceasefire came into effect. ( https: //www. savethechildren. org/us/aboutus/media-and-news/2026-press-releases/lebanon-four-killed-injured-duringceasefire ) Sustained humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and continued international support remain essential to preventing further deterioration in conditions affecting children and displaced families across Lebanon. *End*

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