Lebanon: Learning Through Laughter: Helping Children Stay Safe from Unexploded Ordnance
In areas affected by hostilities across Lebanon, the danger does not always end when the fighting subsides. Mines and unexploded ordnance can remain hidden in fields, beneath rubble and near homes, turning familiar places into areas full of potential threats. With more than a hundred incidents recorded across the country between April and October 2026, these remnants of conflict put lives at risk, as families return to their homes, children play outside and communities try to rebuild their lives.
Children are particularly vulnerable. An unfamiliar object can easily attract their curiosity without them realizing the danger it may pose.
To help children recognize these risks and know how to react safely, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the Lebanese Armed Forces – Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC), is bringing life-saving messages to communities through clowning and interactive theatre.
During a series of performances by the group Clown Me In, children are encouraged to remember one simple rule: “If you didn’t drop it, don’t pick it up.” Using storytelling, humour and interaction, the performers turn serious safety guidance into messages children can understand and remember.
“Children learn best when information is presented in a way they can understand and engage with. Through theatre and humour, we can communicate very serious safety messages without frightening them,” said Sabine Choucair from Clown Me In.
The ICRC organized twenty performances in villages in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, northern Lebanon and Beirut’s suburbs, in coordination with municipalities and local communities.
"The professionalism behind ICRC's initiative is remarkable. It proves that explosive ordnance risk education can be both rigorous and deeply human, and that is exactly the standard our communities deserve,” said Colonel Ali Makki, Head of Explosive Ordonnances Risk Education at LMAC.
The risk can also change with the seasons. As winter approaches, rain and snow can expose or displace mines and unexploded ordnance, causing dangerous items to appear in unexpected areas. This can increase the risk for families and children, particularly during outdoor activities or while collecting firewood, making continued awareness and caution especially important throughout the winter months.
“We want children to leave the show smiling, but also remembering one very serious message: if you see something you don’t recognize, don’t touch it. Move away and call 1706. For the ICRC, helping communities understand these risks is an essential part of our humanitarian response. We remain committed to working alongside our partners to help people stay safe and reduce the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, particularly in areas affected by hostilities,” said Jessica Ibrahim, weapon contamination field manager at the ICRC’s delegation in Lebanon.
For communities living with the consequences of hostilities, knowing how to recognize danger and respond safely can help prevent further injuries and save lives.
For further information, please contact:
Sally Aoun, ICRC, ICRC Lebanon, Tel.:+961 81 314 798, saaoun@icrc.org
Press Office, ICRC Geneva, press@icrc.org
or visit our website: www.icrc.org
Length: 09’15’’
Location: Lebanon
Date of Filming: 26 August 2026 - 11 September 2026
Camera: Wissam ANDRAOS, Hussein BASSAL, Fourat BOU KAMEL
Language: Arabic - English
Resolution: 4K
Copyright: ICRC access all
On Screen Credit: ICRC written or logo
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00:00-00:42 |
Arriving at various show locations across Lebanon. Following the latest escalations, many buildings remain in ruins, roads are sometimes inaccessible and people are returning to their hometowns where basic needs are still lacking. |
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00:43-00:52 |
ICRC staff: “Are you ready?” Kids: “YES” ICRC staff: “Let the show start!” |
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00:53-03:11 |
The “Clown Me In” crew performing the show in various locations including Wadi Khaled and Baalbek to Beirut, West Bekaa, El Nabatiyeh, and Tyre. |
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03:11-05:11 |
Kids from across Lebanon reacting to the show, laughing, interacting with the clowns and fully immersed in the performance. |
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05:11-05:42 |
Kids leaving with ICRC giveaways. Each child receives a backpack with a colouring book, colouring pencils, a children’s storybook, a teen comic and a leaflet, reinforcing the Risk Awareness Safer Behaviour messages and giving them a tangible reminder of the show. |
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05:42-05:47 |
Kid 1: “If I find a toy on the ground, I don’t go near it.” إذا وجدتُ لعبةً على الأرض، لا أقتربُ منها. |
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05:47-06:01 |
Kid 2: “When I’m walking on the road and see something that doesn’t belong to me, I don’t go near it. I call 1706 and tell my mother and father about it, and I stay away from it.” عندما أكونُ سائرة في الطريق وأرى شيئًا لا يخصّني، لا أقترب منه. أتصلُ بالرقم 1706، وأخبرُ أمّي وأبي، ولا أقتربُ منه. |
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06:01-06:10 |
Kid 3: “I learned that we shouldn’t touch anything we don’t know, and that we shouldn’t approach a source of danger. As soon as we see something dangerous, we call 1706.” حفظتُ أنّه لا يجب أن نلمس شيئًا لا نعرفه، وألّا نقترب من الخطر، وبمجرّد أن نرى شيئًا خطيرًا، نتّصل بالرقم 1706. |
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06:10-06:24 |
Kid 4: “What I remember most from the play is the song they used to explain more clearly to the children what they should do when they find a suspicious object. Stop, don’t touch, call someone.” أكثر ما أتذكّره من العرض هو الأغنية التي كانوا يشغّلونها ليشرحوا للأطفال بشكلٍ أوضح ما الذي يجب فعله عندما يجدون جسمًا غريبًا. توقّف، لا تلمس، نادِ أحدًا. |
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06:24-06:47 |
Mother 1: “After watching the play, I started talking with mothers about the importance of paying attention to children. If a mother sees something on the road, in the fields, in the playground or under a tree, she should keep an eye on her children and call 1706, because it’s dangerous. Mothers need to be aware and pay attention to their children. بعد أن شاهدتُ العرض، صرتُ أتحدّثُ مع الأمّهات عن ضرورة الإنتباه إلى أولادهنّ. فإذا رأت الأمّ شيئًا في الطرقات، أو في الحقول، أو في الملعب، أو تحت شجرة، يجب عليها الإنتباه إلى أولادها والإتصال بالرقم 1706، لأنّ هذا الأمر خطير، ولا بدّ من أن تكون الأمّ واعية وأن تنتبه إلى أولادها. |
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07:12-07:54 |
Mother 2: “After the crisis we went through, which was certainly very difficult for us and for everyone, the area of Srifa was heavily affected, including its electricity and infrastructure. Around 300 to 350 residential units were damaged, as well as homes, the cemetery, the library, the municipality building and the local medical clinic, which was destroyed. The clinic was a facility that we, as residents of Srifa and the neighbouring villages, relied on heavily. Honestly, the play is very important, and it should be shown in schools and anywhere there are children. It’s also important for adults to watch these performances so that they can be more cautious, learn and know how to act.” بعد الأزمة التي مررنا بها، وهي بالتأكيد أزمة صعبة جدًّا علينا وعلى الجميع، تضرّرت منطقة صريفا كثيرًا، وتضرّرت فيها الكهرباء والبنية التحتية. هناك نحو 300 أو 350 وحدة سكنية متضرّرة، إضافةً إلى البيوت، والمقبرة، والمكتبة، والبلدية، والمستوصف الذي تدمّر. وكان المستوصف مرفقًا نعتمد عليه كثيرًا نحن أهالي صريفا والقرى المجاورة. صراحةً، العرض مهمٌّ جدًا، ومن المفترض أن يُعرض في المدارس، وفي أي مكان يوجد فيه أطفال. وحتى البالغين، من المهمّ أن يشاهدوا هذه العروض ليكونوا أكثر حذرًا، ويتعلّموا، ويعرفوا كيفية التصرّف. |
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07:54-09:15 |
Jessica Ibrahim: Weapon Contamination Field Manager at ICRC Lebanon جيسيكا إبراهيم: مديرة ميدانية في قسم التلوث بالأسلحة في اللجنة الدولية للصليب الأحمر في لبنان Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a real danger, particularly to children, in areas most affected by hostilities. For this reason, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in cooperation with the Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC), is organizing an interactive play for children and their parents. We use theatre and laughter to convey a simple but very important message: If you didn’t throw it, don’t pick it up. If you see any unfamiliar or suspicious object, don’t approach it or touch it. Move away from it and call 1706. We have 20 performances, which are held across Lebanon, from the northern areas to Beirut and the Bekaa region, and all the way to southern Lebanon. At the ICRC, we are coordinating with municipalities, which allows us to reach as many children as possible. The activity itself is highly interactive, and we are receiving very positive reactions from the children. They are engaging with the play and, most importantly, they are memorizing the key messages we’re trying to convey by raising awareness through theatre and laughter. The most important message we’re trying to convey to them is not to touch any suspicious object and, if they see anything, to tell their parents so that they can call 1706. لا تزال الألغام والذخائر غير المنفجرة تشكّل خطرًا حقيقيًا، وخصوصًا على الأطفال، في المناطق الأكثر تضرّرًا من الأعمال العدائية. ولهذا السبب، تنظّم اللّجنة الدوليّة للصليب الأحمر، بالتعاون مع المركز اللّبناني للأعمال المتعلّقة بالألغام، عروضًا تفاعلية للأطفال وأهلهم، نستخدم فيها المسرح والضحك لإيصال رسالة بسيطة لكن مهمّة جدًّا: إذا لم ترموه، فلا تلتقطوه. إذا رأيتم أي جسم غريب أو مشبوه، فلا تقتربوا منه ولا تلمسوه. إبتعدوا عنه واتّصلوا بالرقم 1706. لدينا 20 عرضًا، وتتوزّع هذه العروض على مختلف الأراضي اللّبنانية، من مناطق الشمال وصولًا إلى بيروت ومنطقة البقاع، وحتى مناطق الجنوب. ننسّق في اللّجنة الدوليّة للصليب الأحمر مع البلديات. وبالتعاون معها، نستطيع الوصول إلى أكبر عددٍ ممكنٍ من الأطفال. النشاط بحدّ ذاته تفاعلي جدًا، ونتلقّى ردودَ فعلٍ جميلة جدًّا من الأطفال. فهم يتفاعلون مع العرض، والأهمّ من ذلك، يحفظون الرسائل الأساسية التي نحاول إيصالها من خلال نشر التوعية بإستخدام الضحك والمسرح. الرسالة الأهمّ التي نحاول إيصالها هي ألّا يلمسوا أي جسم غريب، وإذا رأوا أي شيء، أن يبلّغوا أهلهم كي يتّصلوا بالرقم 1706. |
Ends
About the ICRC:
Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to relieve suffering and preserve human dignity during war and armed violence. Alongside our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, we deliver life-saving aid across front lines and strive to reconnect families and locate missing people.
Engaging with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, we advocate for humane treatment of detainees and urge compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm, including online.
