Press centre
Middle East Press Room
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| © UNICEF/HQ06-1040/ KATE BROOKS |
| Kawther Os, three-and-a-half years old, cries in a government school in Achrafieh, a Christian neighbourhood in Beirut, the capital. |
Children have paid a high price in this conflict:
- At least one-third of the causalities are estimated to be children.
- An estimated 255, 794 people are reportedly internally displaced, including 794 people living schools and public gardens in and around Beirut. An estimated 45 per cent of the internally displaced are children.
- Inflicted untold damage on local infrastructure (roads, bridges, public buildings and private apartments) in Lebanon. The Lebanese government estimates damages at $4 billion. Schools and health centres have been hit, whole apartment buildings destroyed.
- In Israel, more than 97 people have been killed, including 43 civilians. Some have been children. UNICEF is providing psycho-social counselling to children in Israel to help them cope with their fear and anxiety.
- In Gaza, civilian casualties, including children, are high. Additionally the very limited electricity and clean water and sanitation are creating a high risk of illness and disease.
UNICEF is working with a broad range of partners on the ground to save lives and protect civilians in a number of ways:
- Emergency medicines and drug kits,
- Measles and Polio immunization campaign,
- Emergency Family Kits (for the displaced with soap, buckets, pots and pans, blankets, etc),
- Special food for children, high-energy biscuits and micronutrient supplements,
- "School-in-a-Carton" kits,
- Generators for primary health centers,
- Water Kits – including storage and purification materials as well as tankering once the security situation allows access,
- Recreational and educational supplies to help children recover from the traumatic effects of the conflict,
- Near to nation-wide UXO/mine awareness campaign.
Press releases and statements
17 October 2006 - Lebanon takes a vital step in post-conflict recovery as students return to school
16 August 2006 - UNICEF strengthens support to Lebanese returnees in the South
14 August 2006 - UN moves aid south of Litani immediately after cessation of hostilities
11 August 2006 - Statement of UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on Lebanon
9 August 2006 - UNICEF helps children cope with the hidden effects of Lebanon’s ongoing conflict
7 August 2006 - Measles vaccination campaign faces up to challenges of ongoing Lebanon conflict
31 July 2006 - Second UNICEF humanitarian air cargo to reach Beirut today
30 July 2006 - Statement of UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on Qana
28 July 2006 - Jordan’s Air Force carries essential UNICEF supplies to Lebanon
24 July 2006 - UNICEF appeals for $23.8 million as part of flash appeal for Middle East crisis
For more information, please contact:
Gordon Weiss, UNICEF New York, Tel. + 212- 326-7426, gweiss@unicef.org
M. Anis Salem, UNICEF Amman, Tel. +962 79 557 9991, asalem@unicef.org
Wolfgang Friedl, UNICEF Amman, Tel. +962 79 573 2745, wfriedl@unicef.org
Soha Boustani, UNICEF Beirut, TTel. +961) 3 236 167, sboustani@unicef.org
Simon Ingram, UNICEF Beirut (+961) 70 971 387, singram@unicef.org
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Geneva: (+41 22) 909 5712, wbelmonte@unicef.org
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Middle East crisis
Palestinian students return to school [with video]
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Renewed violence in Gaza [with audio]
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