Humanitarian crisis for children deepens after one month of war in the Middle East

NEW YORK, 30 March 2026 – More than one month into the military escalation in the Middle East, conflict continues to exact a devastating toll on children across the region. More than 340 children have reportedly been killed and thousands injured. This includes 216 killed and 1,767 injured in Iran, 124 killed and 413 injured in Lebanon, 4 killed and 862 injured in Israel, 1 child killed in Kuwait, 4 children injured in Bahrain, and 1 child injured in Jordan. The highest reported child casualty event occurred on the first day of the war in a missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Iran that killed 168 children.

Relentless attacks by parties to conflict across multiple countries are destroying and damaging the facilities and infrastructure that children depend on – including hospitals, schools, and water and sanitation systems.

Ongoing violence in the State of Palestine, including Gaza and the West Bank, over the same period has killed 16 Palestinian children and injured more than 50.

“Children in the region are being exposed to horrific violence, while the very systems and services meant to keep them safe are coming under attack,” said UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Urgent action is needed by all parties to conflict to protect the lives of civilians and uphold the rights of children.”

Across the region, more than 1.2 million children have been displaced as bombardments and evacuation orders have emptied entire communities. This upheaval is often accompanied by exposure to traumatic events and the loss of everything that once made children feel safe. Prolonged exposure to violence and instability is known to have lasting impacts on brain development, emotional regulation, and long-term mental health.

The ongoing hostilities are increasingly impacting children in the Middle East and beyond. UNICEF estimates that disruptions across procurement, production, and transport caused by the conflicts could result in delays of up to six months for critical supplies to reach countries across the globe. The rising global oil prices, projected to increase by up to 20 per cent, could further lead to hikes in manufacturing costs for vital items, including vaccines and nutrition products, as well as transport costs. Moreover, logistical challenges such as port congestion and extended shipping routes are exacerbating these issues, with maritime diversions adding up to four weeks delays to transit times.

In response to global supply disruptions, UNICEF is maintaining a steady flow of critical supplies for children worldwide by activating alternative air, land, and sea routes, diversifying sources of life-saving strategic supplies, and frontloading procurement to accommodate longer lead times. Additionally, UNICEF is actively negotiating with transporters to cap excessive surcharges and prioritize humanitarian goods, ensuring that affected regions continue to receive the essential support children depend on.

In Iran, following requests from the Ministry of Health, UNICEF is deploying pre-positioned health supplies, including mobile health units, primary health care tents, and emergency health kits, to restore access to essential services for approximately 226,000 individuals in affected areas. This support encompasses the provision of vaccines, additional primary health care supplies, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for children, adolescents, and communities.

Similarly in Lebanon, amid the growing challenges, UNICEF has scaled up its emergency response to reach children and families with urgent humanitarian assistance. This includes reaching the most vulnerable displaced people in collective shelters, host communities and hard-to-reach areas. Together with partners, UNICEF has expanded health services to support displaced families with an integrated response package – including vaccination, neonatal, and paediatric intensive care services – in over 290 shelters, and for more than 480,000 people in host communities. In addition, UNICEF has repaired 20 water and sanitation systems across the country, restoring reliable water and sewage services for over 1.2 million people.

UNICEF reiterates calls by the Secretary-General for an immediate cessation of hostilities and genuine de-escalation. Every party must exercise maximum restraint. Under international humanitarian law, civilians, including and especially children, and civilian objects must always be protected.

#####

For more information, please contact UNICEF UK Media team at [email protected] or 0208 375 6030.

About UNICEF 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland). For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.