Save the Children has released a report documenting significant casualties among children in Lebanon over the past six months of conflict. The humanitarian organization stated that an average of seven children have been killed each day since March, with documented figures showing at least 257 children dead and 1,039 injured. The overall death toll during this period exceeds 4,300 people, with over 12,000 wounded and between 60 and 70 villages destroyed.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began following cross-border strikes that escalated after the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel. A ceasefire agreement was tentatively reached in November 2024, but the arrangement largely collapsed after Hezbollah launched an attack on an Israeli military base in March in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A framework agreement to end the fighting was established in June, though Hezbollah has rejected it unless Israel fully withdraws from Lebanese territory.
The humanitarian impact extends beyond direct casualties. Over one million people were displaced at the peak of fighting, and more than 348,800 remain unable to return home despite the June ceasefire. Israel’s military forces continue to occupy areas in southern Lebanon and have repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement. Save the Children emphasized that even for children who have managed to return home, significant barriers persist in accessing essential services.
The education sector has suffered extensive damage, with 340 schools damaged or destroyed in the past six months according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Save the Children warned that at least 100,000 children face the risk of missing the upcoming school year without urgent efforts to restore educational facilities. The organization called on the international community to prevent continued attacks, displacement restrictions, and destruction of civilian infrastructure from becoming normalized in Lebanon.
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