84 Children Killed, Over 667,000 Displaced as Lebanon Crisis Worsens

By UCHECHI OKPORIE

No fewer than 84 children have been confirmed dead as the humanitarian situation in Lebanon deteriorates following renewed hostilities linked to the wider Middle East conflict.

The World Health Organization disclosed on Tuesday that at least 486 persons have been killed since the fighting began seven days ago, while 1,313 others have sustained varying degrees of injuries. Of those injured, 259 are children.

The WHO Representative in Lebanon, Abdinasir Abubakar, lamented the rising casualty figures, noting that the high number of child fatalities is largely due to airstrikes hitting densely populated urban centres, including parts of Beirut.

“This is only a seven-day conflict, and we are already seeing that almost 100 children have lost their lives,” he said, adding that the intensity of bombardments in residential areas has placed civilians at grave risk.

Lebanon was drawn into the conflict earlier this month after Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, launched rockets and drones into Israel amid escalating tensions involving the United States and Israel.

Israel subsequently carried out heavy airstrikes across several parts of Lebanon, targeting what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure.

Meanwhile, displacement figures have surged beyond levels recorded during the 2023–2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees revealed that more than 667,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the past week alone.

During the previous conflict, 886,000 people were internally displaced in Lebanon, while tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from border communities in northern Israel.

According to UNHCR’s Representative in Lebanon, Karolina Lindholm Billing, many of those fleeing now had previously been displaced during the 2024 crisis, with some losing homes and family members.

“This means that people are not waiting to see what will happen next. They leave immediately,” she stated.

The surge in displacement has been attributed to large-scale evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military covering southern Lebanon and the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut.

The United Nations human rights chief had earlier expressed concerns over the legality of the evacuation directives under international humanitarian law.

Health services across Lebanon are reportedly under severe pressure. The WHO confirmed that five hospitals are currently out of service, four others have been partially damaged, and 43 primary healthcare centres, mostly in southern Lebanon, have been shut down.

About 120,000 displaced persons are currently accommodated in government-designated shelters, while many others are staying with relatives and friends.

Some families, however, have resorted to sleeping in their vehicles or on sidewalks as they continue to search for safe accommodation.

As the conflict enters its second week, humanitarian agencies warn that the toll on civilians, particularly children, may continue to rise if hostilities persist.