More than 200 children killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to UNICEF

Following the heavy death toll from the bombing of a house in Almat (Jbeil) by Israeli aircraft yesterday, including seven children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement published on X that more than 200 children have been killed since the start of the war in Lebanon. “Today's [Sunday Nov. 11]) horrific attacks in Lebanon have killed at least seven more children, bringing the death toll to over 200,” UNICEF wrote on X. “Under international humanitarian law, children must never be targets. Their protection is a legal obligation,” added the organization, which believes that a cease-fire is ‘imperative to put an end to this devastating violence.’

At the end of October, UNICEF was already warning of the “devastating” consequences of the war on children's lives in Lebanon. “Since Oct. 4 of this year, at least one child has been killed every day and 10 wounded,” denounced the international organization's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, observing that ‘the war raging in Lebanon is disrupting the lives of children, inflicting severe physical injuries and deep psychological scars.’ At the time, the organization stressed the urgent need for a permanent and immediate cease-fire, expressing concern that “children will not be able to truly heal as long as the violence continues.”

Since Sept. 23 and the start of the Israeli army's massive bombing campaign in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, UNICEF has “provided psychological first aid to more than 9,600 children and their dependents, and community support to almost 10,000 children,” it said ten days ago in the same statement.