The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that nearly 9 out of every 10 families in Lebanon do not have enough money to buy necessities. In a statement following a survey conducted earlier this year, it noted that "families in Lebanon can hardly meet their basic needs, despite significantly reducing their spending." The organization explained that "an increasing number of families are resorting to sending their children, some as young as 6 years old, to work in a desperate attempt to survive amid the social and economic crisis sweeping the country."
UNICEF representative in Lebanon, Edward McKibbin, stated: "The escalating multifaceted crises facing children in Lebanon are leading to a dire and unbearable situation that damages their morale and harms their mental health." The report indicated that "15% of families have halted their children's education, rising from 10% a year ago, while 52% of families have reduced their spending on education, compared to 38% a year prior." It further highlighted that "three-quarters of families (75%) have cut back on healthcare spending, compared to 60% last year," noting that "2 out of every 5 families have had to sell their belongings, up from just 1 in 5 families doing so last year."
