Mass Displacement in Lebanon Due to Escalating Conflict: Over 250,000 Flee Homes Amid Israeli Airstrikes
In a devastating turn of events, more than a quarter of a million people have been forced to flee their homes due to the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanon. This alarming situation has seen over 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians residing in Lebanon seek refuge in Syria, while more than 200,000 individuals are reported to be internally displaced within Lebanon itself, as stated by Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in a post on social media platform X.
Grandi confirmed that an assistance effort is currently underway to support those affected, coordinated closely with both the Lebanese and Syrian governments. According to a UNHCR spokesperson, since October of last year, there have been 211,319 registered displaced persons in Lebanon, with approximately 118,000 forced from their homes just since the onset of intensified Israeli aggression on Monday. Lebanon, which has a population of around 5.8 million, is grappling with this significant influx of displaced individuals.
The ongoing violence, traced back to exchanges of gunfire between Israel and Hezbollah, escalated dramatically following the raid conducted by the Palestinian Hamas movement on Israel. Particularly hard-hit has been Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut, which became the site of extensive Israeli airstrikes, including one that reportedly killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Witnesses recount harrowing tales of survival and exodus. Dalal Daher, one of the displaced residents, voiced the terror of the bombardments, narrating how he and his family sought refuge in central Beirut near Martyrs Square after previously fleeing to return home, only to be driven out again by intensified attacks. Many schools in Beirut designated as shelters for the displaced are already nearing capacity, filled with those fleeing southern Lebanon.
According to reports from newcomers from southern suburbs of Beirut, many face dire circumstances with no safe refuge left to approach. The Israeli military has indicated that these operations target Hezbollah with the ultimate aim of compelling the militant group to cease its assaults on Israel, facilitating the safe return of tens of thousands of evacuated residents to northern Israel.
In the backdrop of this humanitarian crisis, the Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported a staggering death toll resulting from the past twelve days of violence, with 1,030 recorded deaths, including 87 children and 56 women. Moreover, approximately 6,300 individuals have suffered injuries amidst the ongoing conflict. The tragic loss of life include those casualties from the airstrike that killed Nasrallah, with total reported fatalities from that attack reaching 11.
The multifaceted crisis continues to unfold as international agencies and local governments strive to address the urgent needs of the displaced populations caught in the crossfire of escalating military actions.
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