Children in South Lebanon: "I miss the safety of our neighborhood".

Hostilities in southern Lebanon have intensified as a result of the cross-border war between Israel and Gaza. More than 93,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and most children can no longer attend school. Children report severe psychological stress and nightmares, according to the leading Swiss children's rights organisation Terre des hommes Lausanne, which has been providing assistance on the ground for 47 years.

“I miss the comfort of my room, my toys and the safety of our neighbourhood,” says six-year-old Mila.

Mila is one of the 30,000 children who have been forced to flee southern Lebanon to other parts of the country. Since 8 October, her village and many other places in the South have become unsafe for civilians. 75 children have already been injured and twelve children killed as a result of the intensified hostilities.

In the city of Tyre, where Mila fled with her family, the displaced people are living in collective shelters and with host families. Terre des hommes is providing psychological assistance to the children and is actively promoting their protection. ?

Insecurity, violence and nightmares ?

The frustration and despair among the displaced people is great. The majority of them are farming families who have lost their source of income along with their land and can now afford neither rent nor food. 20,000 children cannot go to school because their schools have been closed. There is an increased risk that families will resort to child labour or child marriage as a means of survival. A significant number of children say that they are feeling psychologically stressed.

“In addition to their traumatic experiences in their hometowns, the children often face bullying and isolation in the host communities. This increases their psychological stress considerably. Parents inform us that their children are becoming more aggressive, and the children tell us about their nightmares,” says Lama Hattab , Head of the Tdh delegation in Lebanon.

Girls and women in collective shelters also report that they do not feel safe. Gender-based violence is on the rise: emotional abuse, sexual assault and physical violence are frequently reported.

Tdh provides emergency aid and prevention activities

As soon as the hostilities intensified, Tdh organised a comprehensive emergency response in the shelters and host community. For the past seven months, Tdh has been providing psychological support to children and their caregivers, activities for girls and young women affected by gender-based violence, and cash assistance to families so that they can buy what they need most urgently. Tdh is also working with the government to strengthen child protection and is organising awareness-raising campaigns. “This kind of prevention brings some hope in the darkness,” explains Lama Hattab. “It is essential to strengthen the resilience of families.”

“I dream of my old life and I miss the joyous laughter of our family gatherings. Thanks to Tdh’s activities, I have learnt how to deal with my sadness, I now know how to protect myself,” says Mila's brother Amir. ?

Despite the humanitarian response efforts, the needs of the displaced families remain great. They urgently need more shelter, financial resources and increased international attention.?

Names have been changed to protect the identities of the children.

Please support children affected by the conflict in Gaza: www.tdh.org/gaza