Over 1,100 children killed or injured in Middle East conflict: UNICEF

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has created a “devastating” situation for millions of children across the Middle East, the UNICEF warned.

In a statement on Wednesday (March 12), the UN children’s agency said that more than 1,100 children have been killed or injured since the violence erupted on February 28.

According to UNICEF, the conflict has taken a severe toll on children across several countries. So far, 200 children have been killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, four in Israel, and one in Kuwait, the agency said.

UNICEF cautioned that the number could rise further as the violence intensifies and spreads across the region. The war has also forced millions of families to flee their homes, while widespread bombardment has disrupted education and pushed countless children into dire humanitarian conditions.

The agency stressed that there can be no justification for killing or maiming children or destroying the essential services they depend on.

It warned that the future of nearly 200 million children across the Middle East is now under serious threat and urged the international community to take immediate and effective action to end the violence.