More than 2,100 children have been killed or injured in the ongoing escalation of the Middle East conflict, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The figures were shared on Monday by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban at the UN headquarters.

“Twenty-three days into the escalating conflict in the Middle East, children across the region are paying a devastating price,” Chaiban said. He warned that a further widening or prolongation of hostilities could be catastrophic for millions more children. According to UNICEF, the casualties include 206 children killed in Iran, 118 in Lebanon, four in Israel, and one in Kuwait, averaging roughly 87 children killed or injured each day since the start of the war.

The humanitarian situation has been compounded by mass displacement across affected countries. In Iran, the UN Refugee Agency estimates that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced, including as many as 864,000 children. Lebanon has seen more than 1 million displaced individuals, with approximately 370,000 children among them. Chaiban noted that, even before the escalation, around 44.8 million children across the region were living in conflict-affected settings.

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During a recent visit to Lebanon, Chaiban highlighted the severe strain on public infrastructure and essential services. Over 350 public schools are being used as shelters, disrupting the education of roughly 100,000 students. Water systems have been damaged, and healthcare workers have been killed while trying to assist affected populations. “What I witnessed there and what is unfolding across the region requires full attention and a clear, collective response,” he said.

UNICEF has been providing relief to displaced populations, reaching 151,000 individuals in over 250 shelters and hard-to-reach areas with essential non-food items. Water and sanitation support is being delivered in 188 shelters, benefiting around 46,000 people. However, Chaiban warned that the scale of humanitarian needs continues to outpace available resources.

Emphasizing the urgency of protecting children, Chaiban urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. Echoing the UN Secretary-General, he called for an immediate de-escalation and a political solution to halt the violence. “The children of the Middle East cannot afford a continuation of this war,” he said.

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