Unicef Warns That One in Five Lebanese Households Face Hunger Amid Deepening Crisis

Children are going to bed hungry in one in five households in Lebanon as ongoing conflict exacerbates years of severe economic hardship, Unicef warned on Wednesday. In a newly released report, Unicef stated that children in the war-torn country are being pushed into hunger, forced out of education, and driven into child labor as families struggle desperately to afford basic necessities.

Survey data revealed that more than one in five households, specifically 22 per cent, reported instances of their children going to bed hungry during the previous two weeks. Additionally, 31 per cent of households indicated that their children had to go without essential health care due to financial constraints, while 14 per cent reported at least one child working.

Lebanon has been grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented financial crisis that began in late 2019, which the World Bank categorized as among the worst in modern history. The economy deteriorated further amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, resulting in a GDP contraction of nearly 40 per cent and the virtual collapse of the national currency's value. The situation worsened significantly in March when fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted amid a broader regional conflict.

“Children and young people in Lebanon are being asked to bear a burden no child should have to carry,” said Marcoluigi Corsi, Unicef's representative in Lebanon. He emphasized that families are reaching the breaking point, and without urgent and sustained action, these pressures will shape children's lives for years to come.

The renewed conflict has inflicted a devastating human toll. According to Unicef, since March 2, at least 261 children have been killed and 1,056 injured in Israeli attacks, averaging seven children killed or injured daily over a six-month period. An estimated 12 per cent of the injured children are now living with a disability.

Educational infrastructure has also suffered immensely, with 436 schools damaged or destroyed, leaving approximately 100,000 children out of the classroom. The report noted that 46 per cent of families have cut back on education spending, and 17 per cent reported that their children stopped attending school entirely.

Beyond physical and economic hardships, Unicef highlighted a profound psychological toll, noting that an estimated 770,000 children have experienced psychological distress over the past six months. More than half of surveyed households reported a decline in their children's emotional well-being, and nearly two-thirds, or 63 per cent, stated that their children had become anxious or nervous.

“Without urgent and sustained action, an entire generation of children and young people risks carrying the scars of this crisis into adulthood,” Mr Corsi warned. He concluded that Lebanon's future recovery depends entirely on protecting children today and safeguarding their rights to health care, education, and protection.