BEIRUT, 28 February 2025 – The latest war in Lebanon has had a significant negative impact on children’s lives, with effects continuing to reverberate even after the ceasefire came into effect in November 2024, according to a new UNICEF report.
The devastating war forced children to flee their homes, damaged facilities providing essential services and inflicted physical and emotional wounds on children across the country.
“The war has taken a shocking toll on children, affecting almost every aspect of their lives – their health, their education and ultimately their futures,” said Akhil Iyer, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. “Lebanon’s children need urgent support to heal, rebuild their lives, and survive the lasting impacts of this crisis”.
In a survey conducted by UNICEF in January 2025, 72 per cent of caregivers said their children were anxious or nervous during the war, and 62 per cent said they were depressed or sad. This represents a surge from pre-war data collected in 2023. While 8 in 10 caregivers said they have seen some improvement in their children’s mental health since the ceasefire, those who endured prolonged periods of traumatic stress could face lifelong health and psychological consequences.
The assessment also revealed an alarming picture of children’s nutrition, particularly in the densely populated areas of Baalbeck-Hermel and Bekaa governorates, which were repeatedly targeted by air strikes.
In Baalbeck-Hermel, more than half (51 per cent) of children under 2 years of age are experiencing severe food poverty. In Bekaa, the rate was 45 per cent, a dramatic increase from 28 per cent in 2023. Children are considered in severe food poverty if they consume two or fewer of eight key food groups.
The crisis extends beyond infants. Almost half of children (49 per cent) under 18 years of age in Bekaa and just over one third (34 per cent) in Baalbeck-Hermel had either had not eaten or had had only one meal on the day prior to the survey being conducted. Nationwide, the rate was 30 per cent.
Poor nutrition and insufficient meal frequency stunt children’s growth and cognitive development and increase their risk of suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
The conflict also compounded Lebanon’s challenging education situation which had already left over 500,000 children out school after years of economic strife, teacher strikes and the impact of COVID-19. Schools were destroyed or heavily damaged in the war and hundreds more were used as shelters for some of the 1.3 million people who were internally displaced due to the conflict.
Even with the ceasefire, school attendance remains low. Over 25 per cent of children are still out of school at the time of the survey last month, as compared to 65 per cent out of school during the war.
Many children are unable to attend school due to financial barriers. Two-thirds of families with children out of school cite the high costs of school fees, transportation, and materials, a figure that has doubled since 2023.
The assessment also shows that:
- 45 per cent of households were forced to cut spending on health, and 30 per cent on education to afford basic necessities
- 31 per cent of households did not have enough drinking water
- 33 per cent of households did not have access to the medications their children needed
- 22 per cent of households did not have any heating source for the winter
Lebanon faces immense challenges in recovering from the devastation of war and years of political and economic turmoil. UNICEF supported children throughout the war and is committed to continuing to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.
“This data provides undeniable evidence of the critical need to act now. Lebanon must receive the help it requires to restore vital infrastructure and services, ensuring that children have a future to look forward to,” said Iyer. “At this fragile and defining moment in Lebanon’s history, we cannot afford to wait. We call on all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and to work with the international community to sustain peace and ensure a brighter future for children and we call on the country’s new government to put children’s rights and needs on top of the reform and recovery agenda”.
Given the complexity of the crisis and its long-term impact on children, there is an urgent need for sustained support at this critical moment for Lebanon. UNICEF calls on the international community to support the children of Lebanon and contribute to the 2025 appeal of US$658.2 million to deliver lifesaving assistance to 2.4 million people across the country.
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Access the full report HERE, including selected quotes from children and caregivers:
UNICEF’s Child-focused Rapid Assessments (CfRAs) are telephone surveys conducted in Lebanon. The latest was conducted in January 2025 at national level among 3,048 households (1,024 Lebanese, 1,025 Syrian, 999 Palestinian). The survey produces estimates that are representative of the aforementioned population.
About UNICEF
Working in Lebanon for over 70 years, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone
For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and our work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lebanon/ or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube