Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UNICEF: At Least 3 Children Dead, 1,000 Injured, in Beirut Explosions

VOA News

   At least three children were killed and 1,000 more injured in the
   massive explosion that rocked Beirut, Lebanon last week, UNICEF said
   Tuesday. At least 31 children required hospitalization, the
   organization added.

   The United Nations children's fund noted in a statement Tuesday that
   for survivors affected by the blast, access to water, education, health
   care and their own homes could be limited.

   UNICEF reported surveying 558 out of 3,000 damaged buildings and found
   that only 202 were accessible and had a water supply.

   More than 8,000 Beirut students may see their education impacted, as
   UNICEF reported more than 140 public, private, technical and vocational
   schools are affected by the explosion.

   At least 16 primary health care facilities and maternal, immunization
   and newborn centers were damaged, said [1]UNICEF Executive Director
   Henrietta Fore at a virtual briefing Monday. Together, the facilities
   and centers served nearly 126,000 people.

   Last week, the agency estimated that some 80,000 children were
   displaced in the explosion. Many were separated from their families,
   although most have been reunited. Two children, [2]UNICEF noted
   Tuesday, were still with extended family and receiving case management
   services.

   "Recovery will be challenging. Lebanon is already facing an economic
   collapse and a worrying rise in COVID-19 cases," Fore said. "The
   systems that people count on -- health, nutrition, water and protection
   -- are already stretched to the breaking point."

     UNICEF teams are supporting families devastated by the explosions in
     Beirut. Lebanon is already facing economic collapse & a worrying
     rise in COVID-19 cases. The systems that people count on are
     stretched to breaking point.
     Stand with Lebanon's children: [3]https://t.co/CALEtxHCvm
     [4]pic.twitter.com/TFAlgvVgrl
     -- UNICEF (@UNICEF) [5]August 10, 2020

   The agency said it was providing tetanus vaccination shots, personal
   protective equipment, water and psychological first aid. Volunteers
   were helping to clean, cook, distribute food and water, and make minor
   repairs to homes and shops.

   Children who lived through the blast may need special care and support,
   UNICEF and charity Save the Children warned.

References

   1. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/remarks-unicef-executive-director-henrietta-fore-virtual-briefing-humanitarian
   2. https://www.unicef.org/mena/press-releases/80000-children-displaced-due-beirut-explosions-unicef
   3. https://t.co/CALEtxHCvm
   4. https://t.co/TFAlgvVgrl
   5. https://twitter.com/UNICEF/status/1292864246120951809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

.