GENEVA: The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has worsened significantly amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with reports indicating that 84 children have lost their lives and over 667,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes, according to two United Nations agencies on Tuesday. The country faces a humanitarian catastrophe on an unprecedented scale.
Lebanon has become entangled in the broader conflict between the U.S.-backed Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which escalated this month when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory. Israel responded with heavy aerial bombardments across Lebanon.
So far, the conflict has resulted in 486 fatalities and 1,313 injuries, including 259 children, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO’s representative in Lebanon, stated, “In just seven days of fighting, nearly 100 children have lost their lives.” He explained that many attacks are concentrated in urban centers like Beirut, where civilian populations are at significant risk due to Israeli airstrikes targeting what Israel claims are Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
The rate of displacement in Lebanon is exceeding that seen during the 2023-24 hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that during that period, approximately 886,000 people were internally displaced within Lebanon, and tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from northern border towns.
Mass Evacuations and Rising Humanitarian Concerns
The recent spike in displacement is largely driven by large-scale evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for southern Lebanon and the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut. The UN’s human rights chief expressed serious concerns over these evacuations, citing violations of international law.
The WHO warned that Lebanon’s healthcare system and frontline emergency responders are under extraordinary pressure amidst the surge in casualties. Currently, five hospitals are fully out of service, four are partially damaged, and 43 primary healthcare centers mainly in the southern region have been shut down, many of which have been evacuated, according to Abubakar.
Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s representative in Lebanon, highlighted the urgency of the situation: “Many people fleeing the conflict are doing so for the second time, having seen their homes destroyed and loved ones killed in 2024. They are leaving without waiting to see what will happen next.”
The UNHCR shared that approximately 120,000 individuals are sheltered in government-designated facilities, while many others are seeking refuge with relatives or friends. Some are still searching for safe accommodations, with reports of people sleeping in cars and on sidewalks amid the chaos.
Ongoing Crisis and Humanitarian Response
The escalating conflict continues to place immense strain on Lebanon’s healthcare infrastructure and displaced populations, raising urgent concerns for international aid agencies seeking to provide relief and protection to those affected.
