"Residents in Beirut have launched a charitable initiative to bring joy to displaced children during Eid al-Fitr, as the number of people forced from their homes continues to rise amid ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Footage captured on Sunday shows children playing, dancing and interacting with organisers, some dressed in cartoon costumes, while others had their faces painted during the event. “We came to bring joy to these children who are not to blame for living through these wars. Their happiness is truly great,” said Amira Harfoush, an event organiser. “Over time, there was significant demand from schools, and they began contacting and coordinating with us, because we are able to offer this free of charge,” she added. Fatima Barq, a displaced resident, said the activities help children cope with the psychological strain of displacement. “These activities help the child feel safe, happy, and release the energy bottled up inside, so they are not confined to one place. This contributes to bringing joy to the children and their families,” she said. According to figures released on March 16 by Lebanon’s Disaster Risk Management Unit, more than 1,049,000 people have self-registered as displaced, with over 134,000 currently living in shelters. The initiative comes amid escalating regional tensions following joint military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28. Tehran has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli territory and US military assets across the region, while clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified in Lebanon."