On November 20 each year, the world celebrates World Children’s Day to promote children’s well-being and highlight their fundamental rights, such as education, healthcare, and a decent life. While some countries celebrate progress in protecting children, children in conflict zones, such as Lebanon and Palestine, suffer harsh conditions that make their rights a distant dream.
The Importance of Children’s Rights
Children are the future of humanity, and ensuring their rights is an investment in a better future. These rights include education and healthcare, which are essential for children’s healthy and sustainable growth and development.
The Suffering of Children in Lebanon
In Lebanon, children suffer from the ongoing conflicts, such as the Beirut Port explosion, which destroyed many homes and displaced thousands of families. Additionally, the ongoing war has devastated cities, homes, and infrastructure in several regions of Lebanon, leading to the displacement of over one million people, most of whom are children. These children now face the risks of poverty, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare.
Children in Palestine
In Palestine, children live under daily occupation that disrupts their normal lives. Military checkpoints and continuous raids lead to interruptions in education and worsening health conditions, making their childhood filled with fear and deprivation. Palestinian children suffer from a lack of opportunities and limited rights compared to their peers in stable countries.
Efforts of International Organizations
Humanitarian organizations like UNICEF provide essential support to children in conflict zones through education programs and psychosocial support. However, these organizations need greater international backing to achieve tangible and sustainable changes in these children’s lives.
The Role of Local Communities in Supporting Children
In addition to international organizations, local initiatives in Lebanon and Palestine aim to assist affected children. In Lebanon, NGOs and local schools work to provide care and education for displaced children, attempting to alleviate the impacts of displacement. In Palestine, local health centers strive to offer medical care despite the restrictions imposed on them.
While the world celebrates children’s rights on World Children’s Day, children in Lebanon and Palestine remain victims of conflicts that strip them of their most basic rights. This day should serve as a call for international action to support these children and ensure a better future for them, free from violence and displacement.
