Nowhere is Safe: Children in Lebanon Exposed to Escalating Conflict

International NGO World Vision, which supports children around the world, expresses deep concern on April 8 following a drastic increase in airstrikes across Lebanon. Over 100 airstrikes have been reported in multiple areas where the number of displaced people is already increasing. Due to this further escalation, originally vulnerable children and families are being exposed to increasingly imminent and severe danger.

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"Devastating" Situation and Cutoff of Access
Lebanese authorities and officials involved in emergency response describe the current situation as "devastating." According to the Ministry of Public Health, on April 8 alone, at least 182 people were killed and 890 were injured (announced on April 9). The Lebanese Red Cross has dispatched over 100 ambulances across the country to rescue the injured. This is further exacerbating the already severe damage. Since the fighting intensified on March 2, more than 1,500 people have died so far, including at least 130 children. The number of injured exceeds 4,600.

Intensifying airstrikes in densely populated areas of Beirut, the Bekaa region, and southern Lebanon have driven many families from their homes, forcing them to evacuate repeatedly. In search of safety, people are taking shelter in overcrowded evacuation centers, on the streets, in tents, in cars, or in host communities that are already overburdened.

In some parts of southern Lebanon, the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure, such as bridges, schools, and medical facilities, has severely restricted people's movement and deepened their isolation. As a result, access to daily necessities, medical care, and humanitarian aid is hindered, making it difficult for aid organizations like World Vision to sufficiently reach those who need support the most.

Urgent Call to Protect Children's Lives and Futures
The most severely affected are the children. Many children have been driven from their homes multiple times, torn away from their familiar environments, and repeatedly suffer deep emotional trauma.

Currently, more than 1 million people have been forced to evacuate, of which over 390,000 are children. Disrupted education, a lack of safe spaces, and the growing burden on families are increasing the risks of psychological distress, abuse, and exploitation.