The United Nations Children’s Fund appeals for an end to the violence in the Middle East and unimpeded humanitarian access to assist over 1.2 million displaced children in Iran and Lebanon. The humanitarian organization warns that a generation of children is being pulled deeper into crisis and paying a devastating price.
Vatican News
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to the international community to halt the violence plaguing the Middle East and allow unhindered access to provide emergency humanitarian aid to over 1.2 million children who have been displaced in Iran and Lebanon. The UN agency’s Deputy Executive Director, Ted Chaiban, has warned that “across the Middle East, a generation of children is being pulled deeper into crisis” and is paying “a devastating price” due to it.
Parents, grandparents, teachers, entire families
During a briefing provided on Monday at the United Nations in New York, he stressed that more than 2,100 children have been killed or injured since the beginning of the war three weeks ago. These include 206 children killed in Iran and 118 in Lebanon. Ted Chaiban underscored the humanitarian toll the war is having, pointing out that “behind these numbers are parents, grandparents, teachers, brothers, and sisters. Communities, cities, and nations are in shock.”
Millions of displaced persons
In addition to the dead and wounded, he said, millions of people are fleeing the violence due to the “relentless bombardment” that has forced the evacuation of entire urban areas. In Iran, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced, including up to 864,000 children. In Lebanon, more than one million people have been displaced, including an estimated 370,000 children. The violence has forced some 90,000 Syrians refugees to return to Syria since the onset of the conflict, as well as several thousand Lebanese.
Bridging the emergency funding gap
The UNICEF Deputy Executive Director described how many homes, schools, hospitals, and services on which children depend have been damaged or destroyed. While he highlighted the humanitarian response underway with the provision of food, water, and medicine and care, he stressed that it is not nearly enough to meet the needs, which are growing faster than the available resources. Especially serious is an 86% funding gap in the emergency appeal.
Urgent calls to action
In the name of the children, the most affected, Mr Chaiban appealed then for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians, safe and unrestricted humanitarian access, and urgent financial support for relief efforts to prevent further catastrophe.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946 to provide humanitarian and developmental aid to children and mothers worldwide. It operates in over 190 countries, focusing on child health, nutrition, education, and protection.
