US President Joe Biden has urged Israel to immediately stop firing at United Nations peacekeepers during the ongoing conflict with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Biden described his request as “absolutely, positively” necessary, following two incidents in Lebanon that left four UN soldiers injured.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that its troops were responsible for an incident involving two Sri Lankan soldiers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

According to the IDF, its soldiers detected a threat near the UNIFIL base in Naqoura, prompting them to open fire. The IDF stated that the incident would undergo investigation “at the highest levels” to determine the circumstances and prevent similar occurrences.

The previous day, on Thursday, two Indonesian UNIFIL soldiers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at an observation tower, causing the soldiers to fall.

UN peacekeeping officials, including Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed concerns that some of the firing on UN positions appeared to be direct, though they did not specify the responsible party.

The situation has drawn international criticism, with the leaders of France, Italy, and Spain issuing a joint statement condemning Israel’s actions as “unjustifiable” and demanding an immediate cessation.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry also condemned the IDF attack, emphasising the need for accountability.

Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah has escalated significantly in recent weeks, following an Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

The invasion was said by Israel to be prompted by ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah, which began in October of the previous year in retaliation to the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. The cross-border exchanges have led to substantial casualties and destruction on both sides.

The IDF reported that approximately 100 rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel within 30 minutes on Friday, with two unmanned aerial vehicles also crossing the border.

One of the UAVs was intercepted, according to Israeli sources. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that three individuals, including a two-year-old girl, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Sidon. The Lebanese army reported that two of its soldiers were killed when Israeli forces targeted a post in Kafra.

The humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon has worsened as a result of the intensified conflict.

In Beirut, rescue workers have been working to recover bodies and aid survivors following two Israeli airstrikes that struck the city on Thursday. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that these strikes resulted in 22 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries, criticising Israel for carrying out the attacks without warning.

Amidst this, the UNIFIL mission continues its operations in Lebanon, with about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries patrolling the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line—the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel. Despite Israeli calls for UNIFIL forces to move 5 kilometres northward to avoid danger, Jean-Pierre Lacroix indicated that peacekeepers would maintain their positions.

In the Gaza Strip, a separate conflict persists between Israeli forces and Hamas.

He also expressed alarm over the escalating violence in Lebanon.

“What we are witnessing in Lebanon is a massive operation which strikes, heavy bombardments, obviously also with bombardments from the Hezbollah side, but that are causing dramatic number of civilians being killed,” he said.

Reports indicate that more than 2,000 people have been killed, and over one million have been displaced.

“We see an enormous tragedy in Lebanon, and we must do everything to avoid an all-out war In Lebanon,” Mr. Guterres added.

On Friday, at least 30 people were reported killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Jabalia town and refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency. The IDF have not commented on these strikes.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that “thousands are trapped” in the Jabalia refugee camp, including some of its staff members.

MSF highlighted that Israeli forces issued evacuation orders on 7 October but continued attacks simultaneously, complicating the evacuation efforts. The al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia is facing a critical shortage of fuel, food, and medical supplies, warned Dr Mohammed Salha, its acting director.

Speaking at a press stakeout during the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, the capital of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Secretary-General António Guterres “condemned the fact that there was shooting against the UN premises, wounding two peacekeepers, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.”

“Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, and what has happened is obviously condemnable.”

Israel has argued that its intensified operations in northern Gaza are aimed at neutralising Hamas fighters regrouping in the area. However, these operations have resulted in heavy casualties and further strained humanitarian conditions in the densely populated region.

Lebanon has experienced significant loss of life in the escalating hostilities with Israel, with over 2,000 people reported dead and many more displaced. Israeli officials have also reported casualties, including two civilians and a Thai national killed by Hezbollah rocket fire in northern Israel.

Hezbollah has stated that it would cease its attacks if a truce is reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reveals that more than 370 million girls and women globally—roughly 1 in 8—experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18.

These findings, the first-ever global and regional estimates on childhood sexual violence, highlight a pervasive issue that transcends geographical, cultural, and economic boundaries.

The report, issued on 9 October 2024, was published ahead of the International Day of the Girl, drawing attention to the urgent need for targeted interventions and comprehensive support to address the widespread violation.

The report also states that when ‘non-contact’ forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse, are included, the number of affected girls and women rises to a staggering 650 million worldwide, or 1 in 5.

These figures underscore the critical need for more effective prevention and support strategies to combat all forms of violence and abuse against children.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell condemned the prevalence of such violence, saying, “Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience. It inflicts deep and lasting trauma, often by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe.”

Sexual violence against children inflicts deep and lasting trauma.

Often the perpetrator is someone the child knows and trusts.

Adolescents and children in fragile settings are especially vulnerable.

Here’s more on addressing this global scourge👇 https://t.co/QnwtulPD0b

— Catherine Russell (@unicefchief) October 10, 2024

The report emphasises that childhood sexual violence often occurs in environments where victims expect protection, such as homes, schools, and communities.

Geographically, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected, accounting for 22% of the population.

This was followed by Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 75 million cases (8%), Central and Southern Asia with 73 million (9%), Europe and Northern America with 68 million (14%), Latin America and the Caribbean with 45 million (18%), Northern Africa and Western Asia with 29 million (15%), and Oceania with 6 million, representing 34% of the population in the region.

In conflict zones and fragile settings, where governance and institutional support are weak, girls face even greater risks.

The report revealed that in these areas, the prevalence of childhood rape and sexual assault affects more than 1 in 4 girls.

Catherine Russell further stated, “We are witnessing horrific sexual violence in conflict zones, where rape and gender-based violence are often used as weapons of war.”

The data also reveal that most sexual violence against children occurs during adolescence, with a marked increase between the ages of 14 and 17.

This critical age group experiences heightened vulnerability, and studies indicate that victims of sexual violence are more likely to endure repeated abuse.

Experts stress the importance of targeted interventions during adolescence to disrupt this cycle and mitigate long-term consequences.

The repercussions of childhood sexual violence can be severe and enduring.

Survivors often face heightened risks of sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, social isolation, mental health issues, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships.

The trauma may be further compounded when children delay reporting or choose to remain silent about their experiences.

Report Highlights Childhood Sexual Violence Impact on Boys, Affecting 1 in 11 Globally

Although the report focuses primarily on girls and women, UNICEF’s findings also highlight the significant impact of childhood sexual violence on boys and men.

It is estimated that 240 to 310 million boys and men—roughly 1 in 11—were raped or sexually assaulted during childhood. This figure rises to between 410 and 530 million when non-contact forms of sexual violence are considered.

Despite these alarming statistics, data gaps persist, particularly regarding boys’ experiences and non-contact forms of sexual violence.

UNICEF has called for increased investment in data collection to better understand the full extent of sexual violence against children.

As the world prepares for the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia next month, the report underscores the urgent need for a coordinated global response.

UNICEF calls for an intensified effort to combat childhood sexual violence through several key actions:

1. Challenging social and cultural norms that enable sexual violence and deter children from seeking help.
2. Equipping children with accurate and age-appropriate information to help them identify and report abuse.
3. Ensuring access to services for victims and survivors, providing justice and healing while preventing further harm.
4. Strengthening legal frameworks to protect children, including regulations within organisations working with children, and investing in systems for implementation.
5. Building robust national data systems to track progress and ensure accountability using international standards like the International Classification of Violence against Children.

UNICEF’s report is based on a comprehensive review of data collected from 120 countries between 2010 and 2022.

While more information is available on girls and women, the report acknowledges gaps in data on boys and non-contact sexual violence, emphasising the need for broader and more consistent global research to inform future policies and interventions.