The critical situation of displaced children in Lebanon

The humanitarian organization Save The Children has warned this Friday about the serious situation faced by more than one million people in Lebanon, including 390,000 boys and girls, who remain displaced despite the temporary ceasefire declared in the south of the country. According to the report, these people live in terror due to the constant bombings and the overflight of drones in the area.

Nora Ingdal, director of the Save The Children office in Lebanon, said that although the three-week extension of the ceasefire is a relief, the population feels cautious and cannot return to their old lives. "Families must endure another three weeks of uncertainty, living in precarious conditions in tents, schools and stadiums," Ingdal said.

The alarming displacement figures

According to United Nations statistics, more than 117,000 people, including 40,000 boys and girls, are in collective shelters. Only a fifth of the displaced population has managed to return to their homes since the conditional ceasefire was agreed. The situation is unsustainable and the families' testimonies reflect a common desire: to return home.

Ingdal shared his experience meeting with children and families in various locations across the country. «They all tell me the same thing: they want to go home, the children want to go back to school and the adults want to go back to their jobs. “Uncertainty and fear of a new outbreak of war are present in their lives, along with the constant drone of drones,” he added.

Impact of the conflict on infrastructure

The recent temporary ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel has allowed part of the affected population to try to return to their homes. However, the damage is significant. Data from Lebanon's National Scientific Research Council reveals that more than 62,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the conflict. This has further complicated the situation for the displaced, who must not only face the fear of violence, but also the lack of a safe place to live.

Since the start of the latest Israeli offensive against Lebanon, which began on March 2, nearly 2,400 deaths and more than 7,600 injuries have been recorded. This context has generated a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention from the international community. The situation worsens as families try to rebuild their lives amid the devastation.

The need for sustained support

Save The Children calls on the international community to intensify humanitarian efforts in the region. Ingdal stressed that, although the ceasefire is a first step, it is essential that lasting peace conditions be established to allow families to return to normality. «We cannot allow these families to continue living in uncertainty. "They need support to rebuild their lives and ensure a better future for their children," he concluded.

The outlook in Lebanon is bleak, and the situation of displaced children is one of the most worrying. The lack of access to education, health and a safe environment affects not only their present, but also their future. Therefore, it is crucial that concrete measures are taken to address this crisis and give the most vulnerable the opportunity to be children again.