UNICEF and partners providing urgent relief to protect nearly 40,000 children at risk from the ongoing winter storms in Lebanon
Spokespeople available
17 January 2019 – The impact of the latest storms across Lebanon have left many vulnerable children in need of protection and warmth, especially refugee children.
UNICEF and partners, in close coordination with local Lebanese authorities, UNHCR and other UN agencies, immediately responded to meet the needs of affected children and their families.
UNICEF’s assistance included the distribution of cash assistance, water and sanitation services such as water pumping and drainage, distribution of more than 7,000 blankets and 5,500 winter clothes for children, as well as 1,500 hygiene kits for families and women.
Strong winds, snow and torrential rains battered more than 570 sites all over the country, including floods in more than 11 informal settlements. More than 11,300 people, over half of them children, have been affected by the storm.
The situation of displaced children and their families is most dire due to their precarious conditions even before the severe weather struck. In the Bekaa valley alone, at least 847 Syrian refugees had to be relocated due to floods or severe damage to their shelters. In the north, over 700 relocations have been reported thus far.
“Children’s suffering in affected areas have increased ,” said Violet Speek-Warnery, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Lebanon. “In the past 10 days, UNICEF was able to reach more than 6,000 refugee children in urgent need of assistance. Our teams are working with partners around the clock to reach children in need with much needed support, and to keep them warm.”
Note to Editors:
UNICEF, with partners on the ground, continue to respond to the increasing needs of children and their families. To date, UNICEF was able to pump and drain excess water from more than 60 affected sites and distribute life-saving supplies in the Bekaa, North Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon and affected areas in the South of Lebanon. UNICEF’s partners on the ground are also monitoring health, nutrition and sanitation needs to prevent an outbreak of diseases.
For more information, please contact:
Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
Emily Craigie, 0207 375 6058, [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.
For more information please visit unicef.org.uk