Urgent appeal: Lebanon & Gaza Emergency

Urgent appeal: Lebanon & Gaza Emergency  

UNICEF teams are on the ground providing critical aid and support to the urgent needs of children in Lebanon and the State of Palestine.

The situation in Lebanon

Since the dramatic escalation of the conflict in late September 2024,  Lebanon is witnessing its deadliest period in a generation, affecting every sector of society.

As many as 1 million people, including 350,000 children, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Lebanon.

Over 8,408 people have been injured and 1,600 people have been killed, including more than 104 children, 194 women, and two UN staff (as of 30 September). Countless more children and families are in danger, exposed to ongoing attacks.

The violence has displaced over 246,000 people, almost half of them children. 

The catastrophic escalation in hostilities comes against a backdrop of a multi-layered governance, economic and financial crisis. Lebanon continues to host 1.5 million Syrian refugees, 23,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria, and 180,000 refugees from the State of Palestine.

Amir, 4 years old displaced from southern Lebanon. He is pictured with his family in the Lebanese university in Beirut, which has been turned into a shelter. ©UNICEF/UNI652311/Choufany

The situation in Gaza & the State of Palestine

A girl stands in front of her shelter in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. ©UNICEF/UNI521729/El Baba

As many as 3.3 million people, including 1.7 million children, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across the State of Palestine.

Nearly 2 million Palestinians have been displaced and over 41,000 people have been killed since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, including more than 14,100 children.

Acute threats to children in Gaza include malnutrition, disease, access to safe water, sanitation, and mental health. After 25 years being polio-free, poliovirus has re-emerged in Gaza in recent months. Famine-like conditions are threatening the lives of children in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Almost all of Gaza’s children need mental health and psychosocial support due to ongoing exposure to violence, with particular concerns for children who are exposed to repeated traumatic events, have been maimed, have lost parents and close family members, and children with disabilities.

 

UNICEF in action

UNICEF is delivering extensive humanitarian response programmes in both Lebanon and the State of Palestine.

UNICEF is responding to the most critical and immediate needs of children including malnutrition, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, maternal and child health services, and vaccination. Whenever possible UNICEF is supporting restoration of essential basic services. UNICEF is continually adapting its response to address changes on the ground created by new displacements, public health emergencies, and food insecurity.

Health:

Distribution of emergency health kits, baby kits, first-aid kits, and the provision of health and medical services such as midwifery care, immunisation, maternal and child health care.

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH):

Distribution of thousands of litres of bottled drinking water, as well as fuel to support the operation of essential water and sanitation facilities, and hygiene kits for families.

Nutrition:

Distribution of micronutrient supplements to prevent anaemia and nutritional deficiencies. Distribution of high-energy and protein food rations. Malnutrition screening of children and mothers, as well as breastfeeding support for caregivers.

Education:

Distribution of Early Childhood Development kits and recreational kits to displaced children to support their well-being, life skills, and healing.

Child protection:

Mental health and psychosocial support for children traumatised by ongoing violence. Support for unaccompanied and separated children to be reunited with their families after becoming separated due to the conflict. Distribution of dignity kits to women and girls, including menstrual hygiene kits.

Social protection:

Multi-purpose cash assistance to help vulnerable people to meet their basic needs, including to support pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children with disabilities.

UNICEF delivering aid into the Gaza Strip. ©UNICEF

UNICEF is mobilising extensive emergency supplies but more are urgently needed. ©UNICEF/UNI652325/Choufany

To stay up to date with full details of UNICEF’s humanitarian response, view our regular Situation Reports for Lebanon (here) and the State of Palestine (here).


 

Why UNICEF?

In the north Gaza Strip, 8-year-old Rozy, who has been left paralyzed by the war, is receiving a UNICEF-supported Psychosocial Support kit. ©UNICEF/UNI616430/Media Clinic

UNICEF has been supporting children and families on the ground in Lebanon and in the State of Palestine for decades.

The sheer scale of our infrastructure and long-term development work for children means that we are uniquely positioned to respond rapidly and effectively to these crises.

With a vast global procurement and distribution network, including the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world, UNICEF is equipped to respond rapidly with lifesaving supplies and support.

Sustainable interventions are important because crises are not one-time shocks; their impact can last for years. UNICEF’s humanitarian action takes a cross-sectoral approach that includes health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, education, psychosocial support.

Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.

And we never give up.

UNICEF in emergencies

Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, following the escalation of hostilities in 2024. ©UNICEF/UNI554236/Ingram

Humanitarian action is central to UNICEF’s mandate

In conflict and disaster, children suffer first and suffer most. During emergencies and humanitarian contexts, children are especially vulnerable to disease, malnutrition and violence. Children living in conflict areas are worst off – they are more likely to be living in extreme poverty, for instance, or not enrolled in primary school.

The chaos and insecurity of war threatens or destroys access to food, shelter, social support and health care, and results in increased vulnerability in communities, especially for children. UNICEF focuses on these children and their families to provide them with the essential interventions required for protection, to save lives and to ensure the rights of all children, everywhere.

UNICEF also works to strengthen the links between humanitarian action and development work. Our presence in many countries before, during and after emergencies, delivers a continuum of support. For example, the rehabilitation and upgrade of water and sanitation systems serve vulnerable households in both the immediate crisis and the longer term.

How you can support

To send urgent support to children in Lebanon and the State of Palestine, get in touch using the details below or complete the online form and a member of our team will be in contact.

Corporate Partnerships

For businesses looking to support, contact Owen Buckley, Head of Corporate Partnerships at owen@unicef.ie.

Philanthropy & Major Gifts

Should you or your family office wish to provide support, please contact Donna Marie O’Donovan, Head of Philanthropy at donna.marie@unicef.ie.

Donations can also be sent directly by post to:

UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, D01 R283

Or by bank transfer using the details below:

Account Name: UNICEF Ireland
Bank Name: AIB
Bank Address: 7/12 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Account Number: 24070037
IBAN: IE37 AIBK 9333 8424 0700 37
BIC: AIBKIE2D

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