Recent surge in violence and attacks affecting several countries in the Middle East is taking a shocking toll on the lives of children. Between September 2023 and June 2025, at least 12.2 million children have reportedly been killed, injured, or displaced in conflicts in the Middle East, the equivalent of one child’s life being ended or upended every five seconds.
In Iran, over 180 children were killed according to authorities, including 168 schoolgirls in an attack on a girls’ school in Minab. In Lebanon, more than 83,000 people, including around 24,000 children, have been displaced, with 399 shelters activated, with majority being public schools. In the Gaza Strip between February 28 and March 2, all crossings into Gaza have been closed, preventing humanitarian aid and commercial supplies from entering, with immediate price spikes cutting vulnerable families off from essentials including food, water services, hospitals, fuel and critical medical supplies
UNICEF will continue supporting preparedness efforts and addressing immediate humanitarian needs across the Middle East and North Africa. Our global supply and logistics network includes hubs in Copenhagen and Dubai, more than 200 warehouses worldwide, and pre-positioned stocks and safety buffers maintained with national systems. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to collective shelters to provide life-saving supplies, while essential medical supplies are being distributed in public health facilities in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health.
With your support, UNICEF and partners aim to reach children and communities across the Middle East and North Africa in 2026, providing:
- Malnutrition screening for more than 5.6 million children in Sudan
- Educational services to 2.6 million children in Syria
- Safe water to 2 million people in Lebanon
- Primary healthcare to 600,000 children and women in the State of Palestine
Now, more than ever, your flexible support is critical for children in the Middle East and North Africa. Unrestricted donations help UNICEF provide vital aid to children worldwide and will be directed to the area of greatest need.
