Arabic version: الأمم المتحدة تحذر من أزمة إنسانية مع تصعيد إسرائيل لهجماتها على لبنان
According to Al Jazeera,
Lebanon faces the threat of a “humanitarian catastrophe” due to Israel’s ongoing bombardment and ground invasion, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). UNHCR’s Lebanon representative, Karolina Lindholm Billing, highlighted the widespread impact of Israeli strikes and forced displacement orders affecting residents from southern Lebanon to the Bekaa Valley, the capital Beirut, and further north.
Since the beginning of intensified attacks in early March, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced from their homes, as reported by UN figures. Lindholm Billing expressed concern during a Geneva briefing, stating, “The situation remains extremely worrying and the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe … is real.” She noted that Lebanon’s shelter system is struggling to accommodate the rising number of displaced families.
Israeli military operations have escalated following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks in response to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes across Lebanon and issued mass forced displacement orders for various regions, including southern suburbs of Beirut. On Friday, the military announced new airstrikes targeting Beirut and further displacement orders for southern neighborhoods, including Haret Hreik and Burj al-Barajneh.
Rights groups have condemned these actions, warning that the tactics employed by Israel could constitute war crimes, particularly regarding forced displacement. Human Rights Watch stated, “Israel’s tactics of mass expulsion in Lebanon raise serious risks of forced displacement.”
The destruction of key infrastructure, such as bridges linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, has further complicated humanitarian access. Lindholm Billing pointed out that this destruction has isolated over 150,000 individuals, making it increasingly difficult to deliver essential supplies. The ongoing crisis poses significant challenges for the Lebanese government as it struggles to respond to the escalating humanitarian needs of its citizens.
