Attachments
Highlights
- The severity of the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has now surpassed levels seen during the 2006 war, with reports of children being killed and injured growing by the day. The conflict is inflicting devastating physical injuries and leaving children with lasting emotional scars.
- On 4 November 2024, the Ministry of Education started the new school year in public schools for Lebanese children, with nearly 177,000 students already registered. Out of the 326 public schools not being used as shelter, approximately 200 have reopened for in-person learning. UNICEF is working with the Ministry to reopen additional schools and resume learning for all children, including non-Lebanese students.
- Lebanese authorities have opened more than 1,100 collective shelters hosting around 191,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) – half of whom are women and children. Nearly 85 per cent of shelters are full.
- In the reporting period, UNICEF supported 616 collective shelters hosting nearly 107,000 IDPs with relief items and critical services, including access to water, hygiene, health, and child protection.
Situation in Numbers
- 350,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance
- 1,000,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance
- 191,000 IDPs in collective shelters
- 13,400+ people injured, including reports of 1,206 children
- 3,000+ deaths, including reports of 185 children
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon continues to expand, causing a devastating physical and emotional impact on children. The severity of hostilities has exceeded the 2006 war levels(ii), with more than 12,000 strikes now reported across all Lebanese regions(iii) and 25 per cent of the entire country subject to evacuation orders.(iv) As of 05 November 2024, 3,002 persons were reported killed, including 185 children, 589 women, and two UN staff, as well as injuries to 13,492 people, including 1,206 children, and 2,473 women(v) since the conflict started. In October 2024 alone, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured every day in Lebanon.
The violence and forced displacement are leaving children traumatized with profound emotional distress, including separation anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and fear of loss, withdrawal, and aggression. UNICEF teams have increasingly reported children with disrupted sleep, haunted by nightmares, headaches, and loss of appetite. The physical wounds and deep emotional scars can lead to consequences lasting a lifetime.
As of 05 November 2024, authorities had opened more than 1,100 collective shelters hosting around 191,000 IDPs – over half of them women and children. Of these centres, 967 (85 per cent) had already reached their full capacity. An additional 11 UNRWA sites are hosting nearly 3,670 displaced individuals, 45 per cent of whom are children. (vi) Lebanese Government’s estimates of over one million people affected, with 872,808 IDPs already counted.(vii) Cross-border movement is increasing as people flee the attacks in Lebanon. More than 549,000 people left Lebanon for Syria from 23 September to 04 October 2024, including 184,942 Lebanese and 364,540 Syrians, according to the Lebanese General Security Directorate.(viii) Additionally, 28,350 Lebanese are reported to have arrived in Iraq.(ix)
The provision of critical public services has been significantly impacted, including 40 hospitals with disrupted operations(x), 98 Primary Health Centres and dispensaries closed(xi), and 32 water facilities damaged, affecting the water supply for over 390,000 people. Extensive destruction of civilian businesses and properties has been reported, (xii) with the Lebanese economy projected to contract by 9.2 per cent if the conflict continues until the end of 2024. (xiii) The 2024-2025 school year in public schools restarted on 4 November 2024, with 200 public schools already open for in-person learning and additional schools to follow - see more on Education on page 4.
(ii) OCHA Lebanon: Flash Update #40 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 31 October 2024 - Lebanon | ReliefWeb
(iii) Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Situation Report #37
(iv) UN News: Lebanon Crisis https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155726
(v) Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
(vi) UNRWA SitRep #10 UNRWA Situation Report #10 on the Lebanon Emergency Response | UNRWA
(vii) IOM DTM Round 59 Lebanon | Displacement Tracking Matrix
(viii) Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Situation Report #37
(ix) UNHCR Iraq Flash Update #18: Update on Displacement from Lebanon
(x) Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
(xi) WHO https://hq_who_departmentofcommunications.cmail20.com/t/d-l-euuhidt-jyyhcdlv-y/
(xii) OHCHR UN Human Rights Office condemns the extensive damage to civilian objects
(xiii) UNDP https://www.undp.org/press-releases/un-development-programme-warns-socio-economic-crisis-lebanon-amidst-escalation-hostilities