UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon Under Israeli Assault

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UN Refugee Agency Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, where Israeli bombardment and ground invasion have displaced over 1.2 million people since early March. Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s Lebanon representative, stated that the situation remains “extremely worrying” and that a humanitarian catastrophe is at risk.

According to UN figures, Israeli strikes and forced displacement orders have affected areas across Lebanon, including southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut. The agency has noted that Lebanon’s shelter system is struggling to meet the needs of displaced families, with many living in collective shelters.

Lindholm Billing reported that recent strikes hit central Beirut, including densely populated neighborhoods, causing widespread fear among residents. She stated that the psychological toll on children will be long-lasting and that families are “living in constant fear.”

The Israeli military has carried out aerial and ground attacks across Lebanon, issuing mass forced displacement orders for residents of southern Lebanon and several suburbs of Beirut. The agency has expressed concern over the destruction of civilian homes and bridges linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country.

Human Rights Watch has condemned Israel’s tactics of mass expulsion in Lebanon, stating that they raise serious risks of forced displacement and collective punishment. The UNHCR has also noted that the destruction of key bridges in southern Lebanon has made accessing the area increasingly difficult for humanitarian organizations.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing reports of evacuation orders and destruction caused by Israeli military actions.

Source: Al Jazeera