MEDIA ALERT - Nowhere to Hide: Children in Lebanon Face Rising Protection Risks Amid Expanding Hostilities

World Vision Australia

World Vision is deeply alarmed by yesterday’s surge in airstrikes across Lebanon, with more than 100 strikes reported in multiple areas already experiencing rising displacement. This latest escalation is placing already vulnerable children and families at immediate and increasing risk of harm.

Lebanese authorities and emergency responders have described the situation as catastrophic. According to the Ministry of Public Health, atleast 89 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded in yesterday’s airstrikes alone. The Lebanese Red Cross has deployed more than 100 ambulances nationwide to assist the wounded.

This comes on top of an already devastating toll. Since the escalation began on 2 March, more than 1,500 people have been killed, including at least 130 children, and over 4,600 injured.

Intensifying airstrikes in densely populated areas of Beirut, the Bekaa and southern Lebanon are forcing families to flee their homes repeatedly, seeking safety in overcrowded shelters, on the streets, in tents and cars, or with host communities already under strain. In parts of southern Lebanon, damage to critical infrastructure such as bridges, schools and health facilities, is restricting movement and isolating communities from essential goods, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance.

Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Many have been displaced multiple times, exposed to ongoing trauma and cut off from safe and familiar environments. More than one million people – including over 390,000 children – are now displaced. Disruptions to education, lack of safe spaces, and growing pressure on families are heightening risks of psychosocial distress, abuse, and exploitation.

Humanitarian access remains severely constrained due to insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and movement restrictions, limiting the ability of organisations – such as World Vision – to reach those most in need. At the same time, essential services – including access to healthcare, clean water, education and child protection – are under extreme pressure.

World Vision urgently calls on all parties to:

Immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards lasting peace;
Protect children, families, health care workers, paramedics, and civilian infrastructure at all times, in line with International Humanitarian Law;
Ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, particularly to hard-to-reach areas impacted in Beirut, the Bekaa, and South Lebanon; and
Scale up flexible humanitarian funding to meet rapidly growing needs across the country.

Heidi Diedrich, National Director of World Vision Lebanon, said:

“This latest escalation is devastating for children who have already faced far too much. From Beirut to the Bekaa and the South of the country, children are living through fear, displacement, and loss. For children who have already endured years of crises, this latest escalation is compounding fear, uncertainty, and increasing the risks of long-term harm.

“Every hour matters. Children must be protected, and the international community must act now to prevent further suffering. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately de-escalate and work towards lasting peace, while allowing for humanitarian aid and access to be scaled up.”

World Vision Australia CEO Grant Bayldon said as the crisis escalates, support from Australians continues to be critical to reaching children and families in urgent need.

“Thanks to the generosity of Australians, World Vision has been on the ground since the outset, delivering life-saving support to families in urgent need.

“As this crisis escalates, that support is critical to reaching children and families in Lebanon who have nowhere safe left to turn.”

World Vision Lebanon continues to respond on the ground, providing life-saving assistance – including food, hygiene kits, and psychosocial support – to more than 141,000 displaced people, including over 50,000 children, since 2 March. However, the scale and intensity of the crisis require urgent and sustained international support to ensure that every child still has the chance to live in safety and dignity.

Notes for editors:

World Vision has been present in Lebanon for more than 50 years, delivering humanitarian assistance and long-term transformational development programmes supporting vulnerable children and families.
As displacement continues, humanitarian needs are expected to rise. World Vision Lebanon continues to assess needs on the gorund and is scaling up its emergency response in coordination with partners.
Australians can support World Vision's work at www.worldvision.com.au

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision and their partners are working in communities to improve families’ economic prospects, strengthen violence prevention and child protection services, and improve education systems. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

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Lucy Fogarty at [email protected] or 0432 480875