War impact on children
awaiting urgent donor support

UNICEF survey: We cannot afford to wait

Children in Lebanon continue to grapple with the lasting effects of war, with a January 2025 UNICEF survey revealing a rise in anxiety, depression, and food insecurity. The survey found that 72 percent of caregivers reported their children felt anxious or nervous during the conflict, while 62 percent said their children were depressed or sad—figures that have surged compared to pre-war data from 2023.

Experts warn that children who endured prolonged trauma could face lifelong consequences. Most caregivers have reported improvement in their children’s mental health since the November 2024 ceasefire but there is still a long way to go. “Children need urgent support to heal, rebuild their lives, and survive the lasting impacts of this crisis,” said Akhil Iyer, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon.

The crisis extends beyond mental health. The report paints a grim picture of malnutrition, particularly in the Baalbeck-Hermel and Bekaa governorates, where airstrikes repeatedly targeted communities. More than half of children under two in Baalbeck-Hermel and 45 percent in Bekaa suffer from severe food poverty—defined as consuming two or fewer essential food groups—a sharp rise from 2023 levels.

Education remains another casualty of war. Though school attendance has improved since the ceasefire, over 25 percent of children remain out of school due to financial barriers. Two-thirds of affected families cite the high cost of school fees, transportation, and supplies as the primary obstacle, a figure that has doubled since 2023.

With the country still reeling from war, economic collapse, and political instability, UNICEF has called for urgent international support, including $658 million in humanitarian aid to assist 2.4 million people. “At this fragile and defining moment, we cannot afford to wait,” Iyer emphasized, urging global donors to act swiftly to prevent a lost generation.