An estimated 140,000 children have been displaced over the past four days as Israeli bombings continue to escalate in Lebanon. These attacks, which have killed close to 700 people this week alone, are pushing the region to the brink of a full-scale war. Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children, have sounded alarms over the escalating violence, urging immediate action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Save the Children reported that the recent wave of bombings has displaced not only 140,000 children but brought the total number of displaced children in Lebanon to 175,000. Lebanon, a country already facing numerous challenges, has seen half a million people forced from their homes due to nearly 12 months of sustained conflict since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.
Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children’s country director in Lebanon, described the deteriorating situation: “Many children’s lives, rights, and futures have already been turned upside down, and now their capacity to cope with this escalating crisis has been eroded.” She noted that children are experiencing constant fear, and even the smallest sounds now trigger anxiety. “Children are telling us that it feels like danger is everywhere, and they can never be safe.”
The organization has been working on the ground to help those displaced by the bombings. A sanitation worker, Mahmoud, who volunteers at a shelter in Beirut, shared his experience of witnessing families in a state of panic as they fled for safety. “One woman was carrying her child along with several bags. Another woman’s child fell from her arms. The situation was tragic, and simply heartbreaking,” Mahmoud said. He recounted the overwhelming scene, with families sitting on the floor of the shelter, awaiting direction and assistance. Volunteers in Beirut have stepped up to help by providing basic necessities such as pillows and bags for those who have lost everything.
While Israeli officials maintain that their attacks target Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and paramilitary group, civilians—especially children—have become collateral damage. Dozens of children and approximately 100 women were killed this week, according to reports. The Associated Press echoed the fears of many in Lebanon, who worry that Israel’s military strategy in Lebanon mirrors its offensive in Gaza, which has seen mass displacement, overwhelming airstrikes, and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Despite international pressure to halt the bombing campaign, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unwavering in his resolve to continue. “We will not stop until we achieve all of our objectives,” Netanyahu declared, rejecting calls from the United States and other nations for a three-week cease-fire on the Lebanon-Israel border.
Netanyahu’s government has received international criticism for its unyielding stance. This week, his office released a statement indicating that Israel shares the U.S.-led initiative’s aim of enabling people along the northern border to return to their homes safely. However, Netanyahu refused to commit to a cease-fire deal, insisting that military operations would persist until Israel’s goals are fully realized.
As the situation worsens, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon mirrors the ongoing devastation in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than 41,500 people over the past year. This assault has been fueled by over 50,000 tons of U.S.-supplied weaponry, a controversial aspect of the conflict that has drawn global condemnation. Israel’s use of such vast military resources has led to the destruction of vital infrastructure, leaving civilians without access to water, medical care, or basic supplies.
Lebanon’s displacement crisis grows more dire by the day. For many Lebanese families, the war has already taken a steep toll, and the prospect of further escalation only deepens their suffering. As Hezbollah launches retaliatory rocket fire, fears of a broader regional war are mounting, with neighboring countries preparing to evacuate their citizens. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concerns this week, warning that “hell is breaking loose” as the situation spirals out of control.
During a U.N. Security Council meeting, Guterres called on all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions. “To all sides, let us say in one clear voice: Stop the killing and destruction. Tone down the rhetoric and threats. Step back from the brink,” Guterres urged. He cautioned that an all-out war between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah would result in an “all-out catastrophe.”
Despite the increasing calls for peace, international actors have been unable to secure a lasting cease-fire in either Lebanon or Gaza. Netanyahu’s consistent refusal to engage in diplomatic efforts has exacerbated the conflict, leaving millions of civilians—many of them children—caught in the crossfire.
“It is still possible to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, but we must act now,” said Jennifer Moorehead of Save the Children.
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