Children and caregivers across Lebanon are still struggling with the psychological effects of conflict and displacement, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned on World Mental Health Day. An estimated 770,000 children in Lebanon have suffered psychological distress over the past six months. 

IRC analysis and interviews with 10 mothers of children aged 0-8 displaced to collective shelters, rented apartments and relatives’ homes show that fear and insecurity continue to shape children’s daily lives. Mothers described children who are frightened by loud noises and drones, cling to their caregivers, struggle to sleep without the lights on and fear being forced to flee again. One mother of children aged 4 and 6 said: “My children are not playing with other kids. They just watch them from afar. They are constantly scared.” Another described how her 6-year-old reacts to loud noises: “She tells me to pack, they are bombing.”

“Children do not simply leave the conflict behind when they leave a shelter or return home, the psychological consequences last much longer,” said Benoit Delsarte, IRC country director in Lebanon. “For some, a loud noise is still enough to bring back the fear of having to flee. Supporting the mental health of caregivers is one of the most direct ways we can help young children feel safe and begin to recover.”