1 In 5 Lebanese Households Report Children Going Hungry: UNICEF

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Beirut: According to a recent UNICEF evaluation published on September 30, more than one in every five households in Lebanon stated that their children had gone to bed hungry in the previous two weeks. The agency warned that years of economic crisis, exacerbated by conflict, are deepening deprivation among children and youth.

According to the UNICEF report ‘An Enduring Nightmare,’ 22% of households polled reported that their children went to bed hungry. Simultaneously, just 10% of houses with children under five reported being able to offer a decent food.

The turmoil is also affecting access to healthcare. 31% of households said that their children had not received necessary medical care, with affordability mentioned as a primary cause. Meanwhile, 14% of households indicated that at least one child was working, which is more than double the rate observed in January 2025.

Education has been badly affected. UNICEF said that 436 schools had been damaged or destroyed, placing about 100,000 children at danger of losing access to classes. Nearly half of polled households reported cutting education spending, with 17% reporting that their children had stopped attending school.

The psychological effects are also substantial. UNICEF estimates that around 770,000 children had experienced psychological distress in the previous six months. More than half of households reported a decline in their children's emotional well-being, with 63% stating that their children were anxious or nervous.

According to UNICEF, four out of five Lebanese households struggle to pay for basic essentials as a result of the nation's protracted economic crisis and continued insecurity. The agency cautioned that children and young people might carry the effects of the crisis into adulthood if they did not receive continuous help.

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