UN Reports 900,000 Lebanese Displaced By War, A Quarter Of Country Now Under Israeli Evac Orders

The United Nations (UN) recently stated that approximately 600,000 Lebanese have been internally displaced due to the ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli bombing campaign on Beirut has continued, causing another 300,000 to flee the country. The UN has labelled the situation as "catastrophic".

Lebanon's Humanitarian Crisis

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, expressed that the country is currently facing a conflict and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions. She mentioned that the UN and Western leaders are hopeful that Israel will support the numerous calls and appeals for de-escalation and a potential ceasefire. Imran Riza, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, stated that Lebanon is undergoing "one of the deadliest periods" with 600,000 civilians internally displaced. He noted that over 350,000 of these internal refugees are children. This week, the US State Department seemed to retreat from the idea of calling for an immediate ceasefire, as they wish to see Hezbollah weakened and defeated.

Israel's Response

In response to the growing international criticism of its large-scale bombing of dense neighborhoods, Israel has stated that they are not targeting civilians. However, if they find Hezbollah activities or intentions to launch rockets into Israel, they will respond as any other country would, according to Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. Since Sept. 23, Lebanon's Health Ministry has reported that Israeli aggression has resulted in the death of more than 1,323 people and nearly 3,700 injuries. However, the government figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Overall, since Oct.8, 2023, following the Hamas terror attacks and the conflict's origin, Lebanon has reported a total of 2,141 deaths and over 10,000 injuries.

Displacement of Lebanese

According to the UN, more than 600,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon, and over 300,000 more have left the country since the war began last month. This total is almost equivalent to the number of people displaced during Lebanon’s 2006 war with Israel. Lebanese officials have reported the latest displacement figure to be more than one million. Hezbollah has increased its rocket attacks into Israel, sending hundreds of rockets to the north and many dozens to the port city of Haifa, causing damage to infrastructure and injuries to Israeli civilians. In southern Lebanon, the Israeli military has ordered over 100 towns and villages to evacuate to the north, attempting to create a buffer zone to prevent Hezbollah launches into northern Israel.

Lebanon's Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

The UN has reported that a quarter of Lebanese territory is now under Israeli military displacement orders. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Wednesday that Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Israeli airstrikes have not only intensified but also expanded into previously unaffected areas and increasingly targeted critical civilian infrastructure. The report also mentioned that displacement orders for more than 100 villages and urban neighborhoods across southern Lebanon continue to force people to flee. The IDF confirmed on Wednesday that it has hit southern Lebanon with 1,100 airstrikes since heightened operations began earlier this month.

Political Situation in Lebanon

Prime Minister Netanyahu has urged the Lebanese people to "free" the country from Hezbollah or else face destruction on the level of Gaza. However, among the country's divided political blocs and religious communities, it is Shia Hezbollah which is by far the most well-armed. The Lebanese Army is not even close to Hezbollah in military capability, something which the US and Western powers have ensured. The US intentionally limits Lebanon's Air Force, and Western sanctions have long throttled the types and quantities of arms Lebanon is able to receive.

Bottom Line

The ongoing conflict in Lebanon is a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions. The displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and the loss of life are alarming. It raises questions about the international community's role in mitigating such conflicts and the long-term impact on the affected population. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.