Kathmandu. More than 118 children have been killed in Lebanon and more than 200 in Kuwait as conflict escalates into the Middle East. The reported figures suggest that the number of affected people is expected to increase as the violence continues.

An average of 87 children have been killed or wounded every day since the war began, according to UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban. He called on all sides to immediately cease hostilities, protect civilian infrastructure, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access.

UNICEF has warned that a prolonged period of violence could lead to a deep crisis in the Middle East. The death of innocent children will weaken public confidence and cause permanent damage to scientific capacity. Nearly a month into the devastating war, the United Nations says soaring oil and gas prices have had far-reaching implications for the global economy.

Disruptions and closures at airspace, transport, shipping routes and key humanitarian borders in the Middle East are impacting the availability and price of basic goods and medicines, as well as humanitarian operations and commercial supply chains.

“Attacks on merchant ships in the straits of Hormuz have threatened the delivery of basic supplies, pushing up food prices and raising the risk,” it said. Developing countries in Asia and Africa are likely to be the hardest hit, as markets are affected by threatening food security.

Stressing that there is no military solution to the conflict, it said that diplomatic means to resolve the crisis are through a peaceful solution and implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.