Save The Children: Over 250 Children Killed In Lebanon In Six Months

BEIRUT, Sept 4 (dpa) -- At least 257 children have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon over the past six months, children's rights organization Save the Children said, citing figures from the Lebanese Health Ministry. 

A further 1,039 children were injured in the same period, the organization said in a statement.

Since the most recent escalation of the conflict, nearly 1,300 children have become victims of the violence, Save the Children said, an average of more than seven children per day.

Children had continued to be exposed to violence, displacement and the consequences of destroyed infrastructure even since the ceasefire agreed in June, the organization said.

"Children cannot continue to live under the threat of further violence while waiting for the conditions necessary to rebuild their lives," Nora Ingdal, country director for Save the Children in Lebanon, said.

"Lebanon needs a definitive, lasting and comprehensive ceasefire ... The international community must not allow continued attacks, displacement, restrictions on return and the destruction of civilian infrastructure to become the new normal for children in Lebanon."

Access to education had also been severely affected. According to Save the Children, around 100,000 children would be unable to attend school in the coming school year.

The conflict between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia escalated again in early March in the course of the Iran war. Despite a ceasefire nominally in force, Israel and Hezbollah repeatedly accuse each other of violations.

Israel's army remains stationed in southern Lebanon and carries out attacks on an almost daily basis.

--NNN-dpa