UN says one child a day killed in Israel’s war on Lebanon in past month

As Israel expands its offensive and campaign of forced displacements, UNICEF says 10 children are injured daily.

The United Nations children’s agency says at least one child a day has been killed in Lebanon over the past month as Israel intensifies its bombing campaign.

“Since October 4 of this year, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured daily,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said on Thursday and added that “the ongoing war in Lebanon is upending children’s lives.”

The UN agency said “thousands more children who have survived the many months of constant bombings physically unscathed are now acutely distressed by the violence and chaos around them.”

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, 166 children have been killed and at least 1,168 injured since Hezbollah and Israel began exchanging fire across the border in October 2023. The conflict has escalated since August.

Trauma is prevalent among children, who show signs of emotional, behavioural and physical distress.