Roughly 180 youngsters have been reported dead, with numerous others wounded in the conflict.
“Among the casualties are 168 girls killed when a strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, in southern Iran, on 28 February, while classes were in session. Reports indicate that the majority of those killed were schoolchildren aged between 7 and 12. In addition, 12 children were killed in other schools across five different locations in Iran.
“These child casualties are a stark reminder of the brutality of war and violence on children, which impacts families and communities for generations.
“Children and schools are protected under International Humanitarian Law and must be places of safety.
“As military strikes continue across the region, children are increasingly exposed to violence and the impact on essential civilian infrastructure poses a direct threat to their wellbeing. At least 20 schools and 10 hospitals have reportedly been damaged in Iran, disrupting children’s access to education and critical health services.
“UNICEF urgently calls on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law, and to ensure the protection of civilians. Under international humanitarian law, the lives and wellbeing of children must always be protected.
“UNICEF continues to closely monitor the situation and stands ready to support the humanitarian efforts to assist children and families affected by the escalating violence.”
The surge in US-Israeli hostilities last weekend, featuring accounts of attacks on educational facilities in Iran and the loss of many students' lives alongside injuries to others, led UNICEF to reinforce the UN Secretary General's plea for an instant halt to fighting and a reduction in tensions.
The organization also pressed conflicting sides to safeguard non-combatants and vital services essential for children's survival.
"UNICEF, together with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners, is actively assessing the situation and stands ready to scale up support to affected children and their families as needed and requested," UNICEF said in its Feb. 28 statement.
Meanwhile, rising aggression in the West Bank coupled with strife in the Gaza Strip has triggered a catastrophic humanitarian emergency for youngsters, with broader regional consequences.
Famine was verified in sections of the Gaza Strip during 2025; even with better circumstances and expanded entry after the armistice, 132,000 kids were still vulnerable to undernutrition at the beginning of 2026.