BEIRUT, June 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 240 children have been killed and nearly 1,000 others wounded in Lebanon since fighting escalated in early March, UNICEF said Wednesday, warning that prolonged violence is taking a growing toll on the country's youngest population.
In a statement, UNICEF said 247 children were killed and 992 injured since March 2, adding that hundreds of thousands more are facing the effects of displacement, insecurity and interrupted access to basic services.
The agency estimated that over 770,000 children are struggling with the emotional and mental impact of the violence, while ongoing security concerns and unexploded munitions continue to prevent many families from returning to their communities.
The agency called for an end to the fighting, protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, and unrestricted access for humanitarian organizations to reach affected populations.
Iran and the United States finalized a peace memorandum of understanding on Sunday, which is expected to call for an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference on Monday that the Israeli military would remain in the "security zones" it controlled in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip as long as necessary. ■
