UN Reports Civilian Killing; Displacement In Lebanon Due To Airstrikes

The UN humanitarian agency has reported ongoing attack in Lebanon that are killing civilian casualties and displacing more families.

On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that hundreds were displaced on Sunday night. This came after Israeli evacuation orders targeted a social finance network, which were soon followed by airstrikes. One airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut destroyed a UNFPA-supported safe space for women and girls, as well as a primary healthcare center, according to Xinhua news agency.

In areas such as Beirut, Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon, insecurity has forced the closure of ten UNFPA-supported facilities. including primary healthcare sites and mobile maternity units.

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Lebanese health authorities have reported more than 2,400 deaths and over 11,500 injuries since the hostilities began last October. The crisis has impacted nearly 1.2 million people, resulting in significant displacement.

OCHA confirmed that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to provide support throughout Lebanon, including in hard-to-reach areas. On Monday, a six-truck aid convoy supported by UNICEF and the World Food Program delivered humanitarian supplies to Jaboule town in Baalbek Governorate. This marked the first aid delivery in Lebanon since September.

The convoy included enough food supplies to support 1,000 people for two months, along with ready-to-eat meals. Additionally, UNICEF provided water bottles, mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits for three shelters in Jaboule town.

As of last weekend, nearly 1,100 collective shelters had opened in Lebanon, accommodating around 192,000 displaced individuals. However, more than 900 of these shelters are already at full capacity, according to OCHA estimates. The highest percentage of internally displaced people is concentrated in Beirut and Mount Lebanon Governorate.

The International Organization for Migration reported that over 800,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon due to escalating hostilities over the past year. Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency indicated that more than 420,000 people have crossed into Syria, with nearly 17,000 arriving in Iraq.