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[16 July 2007] - NGOs say children in Lebanon are still at risk a year after hundreds were killed or injured and thousands more displaced following fighting between Israel and Hizbullah. Children bore the brunt of the July War, which left 1,191 dead, 4,409 injured and over 974,000 displaced in Lebanon. Homes, schools and hospitals were destroyed. Up to 40 per cent of those killed in Lebanon were children; over 400,000 were displaced. Children returning to their ruined homes and communities faced an uncertain future and new dangers. “The end of fighting did not mean the end of suffering for children,” said Mat Cousins, head of Save the Children UK in Lebanon. “Stress and trauma continued to take their toll, with children suffering bad dreams, bed-wetting and fears for their families’ future.” Walaa, 11, was shocked when the cleaner at his school in Saida was killed. “He didn’t deserve to die. When I heard he was killed, it made me afraid for my family,” he said. Children also risk death and injury from unexploded ordnance, especially in the south. According to Lebanese officials Israel is believed to have dropped over one million cluster bombs on Lebanon, often attractively shaped and brightly coloured like toys. Mine awareness campaign At least six children have been killed and around 70 injured in explosions caused by such ordnance since the war ended. To address this continuing threat to children’s lives, NGOs have worked with the National De-mining Office and other official bodies to produce mine risk awareness ads for television, airing later this month. NGOs have been striving to help rebuild the lives of vulnerable children in Lebanon regardless of sex, religion, nationality or status. Nearly 13,000 children benefited from the creation of safe spaces where they could play in a secure and supported environment in the months following the outbreak of war. Parents, teachers and volunteers were advised and trained to identify children suffering from stress and to help them cope with their trauma. “The sooner children return to a sense of normality, the sooner they recover from the trauma of conflict. That’s why child-focused activities, such as playing as a group in safe play areas or going to nursery or school, are so important,” said Sanna Johnson, head of Save the Children Sweden’s Middle East programme. Over the past year, Save the Children Sweden and its local NGO partner Developmental Action without Border (NABAA) have continued to carry out activities in the safe spaces to alleviate children’s stress, offering them psychological support, and educating them on issues such as the dangers of cluster bombs and mines. Similarly, Save the Children UK today continues to support local partners providing stress-relieving activities for vulnerable children. Following the July War, Save the Children Sweden and Save the Children UK also provided health and hygiene support for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and other vulnerable people, by assisting six village clinics and three satellite clinics in the south. This enabled them to offer free health care for six months, which benefited more than 30,000 people. Further information