On average 11 children killed or injured every 24 hours in past week in Lebanon, says UN children’s agency

(Reuters)

GENEVA, May 29 – An average ​of 11 children have been killed ‌or injured every 24 hours in Lebanon in the last week, as Israel expanded strikes ​across the country in spite of ​a ceasefire being in place.

Heavy Israeli strikes ⁠hit towns and villages in southern ​Lebanon overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday, ​after Israel declared a new swathe of the area “a combat zone“.

On Thursday, an Israeli strike hit a ​building in the southern suburbs of ​Beirut amid a ceasefire that has failed to ‌halt ⁠fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon.

A total of 77 children have been killed or injured in the last seven days, ​UNICEF said. ​Since ⁠the ceasefire began in April 55 children have been killed, and ​212 injured, according to the ​agency.

UNICEF ⁠spokesperson Ricardo Pires described the toll as “staggering”.

The ceasefire announced by Washington on April 16 ⁠was ​meant to halt the war ​raging between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah since March 2.