New York, March 04 (QNA) - UNICEF has called for urgent action to halt the rising number of child casualties in Lebanon as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Marcoluigi Corsi said Wednesday that the high number of child victims comes amid renewed Israeli occupation airstrikes targeting multiple areas across Lebanon, leading to mass displacement and worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.

He added that in the past 24 hours alone, nearly 60,000 people, including 18,000 children, have been displaced, joining tens of thousands uprooted from their homes, noting that more than 12,000 families have sought shelter in over 300 centers opened across the country.

Corsi said no child should ever be killed or left to suffer the lifelong physical and psychological effects of violence. The violence must stop. Children must always be protected.

Earlier today, Lebanon's Ministry of Health announced that seven children were killed, and 38 others injured in the past 24 hours, amid escalating hostilities across the country. (QNA)