Joint Statement by the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and on Violence Against Children.
The conflict and continued use of bombs and drones across the Middle East are inflicting tremendous harm on children.
In Lebanon, dozens of children have been killed in the past ten days alone, and hundreds more have been injured. These numbers reflect only the visible toll. Thousands more children are enduring the psychological trauma, stress, uncertainty and daily disruption caused by escalating hostilities.
The humanitarian situation is deteriorating by the day at an alarming speed. Attacks on hospitals, schools, and essential services for children are compounding this man-made crisis, leaving families without the basic support children need to survive and feel safe.
Children across the whole region are impacted. We echo the Secretary-General’s call for de-escalation and urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. This includes the protection of civilians, especially children, and the safeguarding of the essential services and infrastructure they rely on to survive. Safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access must be guaranteed so that assistance can reach all those in need.
With more than 700,000 people displaced across Lebanon and beyond, including large numbers of children, the humanitarian and protection needs are growing by the hour. We call upon the international community to support those who have been forced to flee their homes.
Children, who once again bear no responsibility for this spiraling violence, must be provided with lifesaving-aid, urgent health care, protection and safety so they can return to their childhood and heal.