UN: Humanitarian situation in Lebanon deteriorating 'at an alarming speed'

More than 1.1 million people have been forced from their homes in Lebanon, according to the United Nations, as the UN spokesman says the humanitarian situation is worsening. Israel recently announced it intends to annex part of Southern Lebanon.

The body has called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities, saying the humanitarian situation was deteriorating “at an alarming speed.”

“Colleagues on the ground in Lebanon say that one month since the start of the ongoing escalation in the country, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming speed," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday (2 April).

"More than 1.1 million people have now been forced from their homes, having to flee their homes, sometimes more than once. All displacement orders, as displacement orders from the Israelis continue to impact newer areas. In one month, nearly 15%, 15% of Lebanon's territory has been impacted by displacement orders, orders issued by Israel."

The UN said that people have found refuge in shelters with relatives or informal settlements. Those who can't access them remain dispaced and urgently need assistance.

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Humanitarian impact

More than 1,300 people have been killed in strikes from Israel according to local officals.

The Lebanese Red Cross humanitarian group said that since 2 March, they have carried out 37 ambulance & search and rescue missions, delivered 125 blood units, helped 6,444 primary healthcare patients and distributed nearly 20,000 relief items.

Due to the worsening conditions, Dujarric urged the protection of civilians, health care facilities and humanitarian workers, as well as full and unimpeded aid access, particularly to southern Lebanon. Journalists, healthcare and aid workers have been injured or have been killed in Lebanon since fighting began.

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"This morning (Thursday), one peacekeeper was wounded in the shoulder by a bullet at a UN position near Mais al-Jabal in Sector East. UNIFIL immediately issued a stop-fire request to the peacekeepers, received treatment at the positions on medical facility. The falling bullet likely originated from clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli Defense Forces in that area", Dujarric said.

He called for urgent international funding to meet rapidly growing needs, amid countries pledging more money to the region in recent weeks.

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Israel hit southern Lebanon just days after they joined in attacks to Iran with the U.S. and have been fighting the Iran-backed Shi'ia Muslim Hezbollah group.

Tel Aviv said it wants to occupy 20km into the south of Lebanon which officials said will be a "security zone" to protect their residents. Israel previously occupied the region for 20 years from 1980.

Israel has issued evacuation orders covering around 15% of Lebanese territory.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese have remained in their homes in southern Lebanon. They include around 9,000 Lebanese Christians living in a cluster of border towns, who told Reuters they were determined to stay despite the advancing military operations.

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Lebanon Israel Middle East conflict Israel-Lebanon Humanitarian Crisis UN Hezbollah IDF News