Children hit ever-harder by Lebanon’s unrelenting crises – UNICEF
NEW YORK (December 13, 2023) – The impact of Lebanon’s unrelenting, overlapping crises continues to worsen, increasingly robbing children of their education and forcing many into child labor, as parents struggle with ever-diminishing resources
With data collected in November 2023, UNICEF analysis reveals further deterioration in almost every aspect of children’s lives, as the four-year-long crisis shows no sign of abating. The emotional burden is particularly heavy in conflict-affected southern Lebanon and among Palestinian children.
“This terrible crisis is eroding the childhood of hundreds of thousands of children, through multiple crisis not of their making,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. “Its severity is crushing children’s dreams, and taking away their learning, their happiness and their future.”
More than a quarter of households (26 percent) said they had school-aged children not attending school, up from 18 percent in April 2023, when a similar assessment was conducted. Making matters worse, several dozen schools in southern Lebanon have been closed since October 2023, due to an intensification of hostilities, affecting more than 6,000 students.
Skyrocketing prices and widespread poverty are continuing to force families to resort to desperate measures just to afford one meal per day and basic shelter. The survey also shows that:
- The number of families sending children out to work to supplement household income, rose to a shocking 16 percent, from 11 percent in April.
- More than 8 in 10 households (84 percent) had to borrow money or buy on credit to purchase essential grocery items, a 16 percentage point increase over six months.
- More than 8 in 10 (81 percent) reduced spending on health treatment, up from 75 percent.
The deprivations and uncertainty are taking a heavy toll on children’s mental health, with almost 4 in 10 households (38 percent) saying their children are anxious, and 24 percent saying they are depressed on a daily basis. The numbers are significantly higher:
- In the South Governorate, where 46 percent of households say their children are anxious and 29 percent are depressed, and in Nabatieh, where the figures are 46 percent and 33 percent respectively.
- Among Palestinian households, where the figures stand at 47 percent of children reporting anxiety, while 30 percent say they are depressed. Palestinian children are affected by the cumulative emotional impacts of poor living conditions, factional clashes, uncertainty about the future and the shocking images from the war in Gaza – where many of their loved ones have been injured or killed.
UNICEF is urging the Government to show a clear commitment to children's rights and take strong action to support, protect, and ensure essential services for all children in Lebanon. Neglecting children today will inevitably manifest in a weakened and struggling Lebanon tomorrow.
“The daily suffering of children must stop,” said Beigbeder. “We must redouble our efforts to make sure every child in Lebanon is in school and learning, is protected from physical and mental harm and has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to society.”
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About UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.
UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For more information please contact:
Jenna Buraczenski, UNICEF USA, (917) 720-1432, jburaczenski@unicefusa.org