‘Hundreds of people displaced overnight’ as airstrikes destroy humanitarian facilities in Lebanon
“Last night, hundreds of people were believed to have been displaced in Beirut and across the country following an Israeli relocation order that identified a socio-financial network linked to Hezbollah,” speak Farhan Haq, United Nations Deputy Spokesperson, interacts with journalists in New York on Monday.
The scale of displacement has overwhelmed available shelters. “As of the weekend, nearly 1,100 collective shelters had been opened in Lebanon to accommodate approximately 192,000 displaced people. More than 900 of these shelters are operating at full capacity,” Mr. Haq added.
The highest rates of internally displaced people were recorded in the Capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon, he said.
Facilities destroyed
The airstrikes have also damaged vital humanitarian infrastructure. “Due to one of the airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the capital last night, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA-Supported safe spaces for women and girls were destroyed, along with a primary health care center“, Mr. Haq reported.
He added that the facility “has provided counselling, legal aid and referral services to hundreds of at-risk women and survivors of gender-based violence at one of the most vulnerable communities in Beirut”.
In Beirut, Bekaa and Mount Lebanon, 10 UNFPA-supported facilities – including primary health care facilities, safe spaces and mobile maternity wards – have closed due to insecurity.
Aid efforts continue
Despite these challenges, UN humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid across Lebanon. “Today, a relief convoy of six trucks – supported by UNICEFWorld Food Program (WFP) And OCHA – bringing humanitarian aid to the town of Jaboule, in Baalbek province.
This is “fthe first such delivery since September”, Mr. Haq said.
The convoy brought enough food to support 1,000 people for two months, along with five days’ worth of ready-to-eat meals. UNICEF has provided water bottles, mattresses, blankets and other items – incl first aid and hygiene kits for three shelters in the town of Jaboule.
Urgent call to support health
At the briefing, Mr. Haq also noted that “health authorities in Baalbek and Bekka provinces have issued an urgent call for support to strengthen health infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas ”.
The impact of the conflict extends beyond Lebanon’s borders. United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 800,000 people were internally displaced in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, more than 420,000 people have crossed the border into Syria, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCRwith nearly 17,000 people seeking shelter in Iraq.
