BEIRUT, Lebanon: Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed or injured more than four children on average every day since the ceasefire came into effect last month, global charity Save the Children said on Tuesday.
In a report citing figures from Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the organisation said at least 22 children had been killed and 89 wounded since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 16.
The figures bring the total number of children killed since renewed hostilities escalated on March 2 to nearly 200, out of approximately 2,900 people killed overall, according to the report.
“This so-called ceasefire that still sees more than four children killed or injured every day is not a ceasefire for children,” said Nora Ingdal.
“Attacks on civilians have not stopped — it has simply continued under another name,” she added.
Save the Children said more than one million people had been displaced by the war and repeated evacuation orders.
The organisation said around 125,000 people were currently living in collective shelters, including nearly 44,800 children, accounting for about 36 percent of shelter residents.
According to the charity, the number of families seeking refuge in temporary shelters has increased by five percent since the ceasefire began, partly because some families returned to homes that had been destroyed or agricultural land that had been damaged.
The organisation warned that conditions in the shelters remained severe because of overcrowding and inadequate sanitation and hygiene facilities.
It said the poor conditions had increased the risk of disease outbreaks, including scabies, while children were also facing worsening mental health conditions and disruptions to schooling.
The organisation urged the international community to take urgent action to secure a permanent ceasefire, ensure sustainable funding for child protection programmes and support the safe return of displaced families.
Israel has said its air force struck more than 1,100 sites across Lebanon since mid-April, stating that the operations targeted the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Lebanon and Israel are expected to hold direct talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday aimed at ending the conflict.
However, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the group’s weapons should not be part of the negotiations and insisted Hezbollah would not surrender its arsenal.
