Lebanon: UN agencies call for ceasefire as war worsens dire conditions

As daily Israeli airstrikes and bombings continue to devastate parts of the country, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon has reached levels that exceed the severity of the 2006 war. in the latest flash update of the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office, OCHA.

Here are some highlights from that report:

• Among the 2,867 people killed and 13,047 injured since October 8, 2023, 178 children have been killed and 1,173 injured
• According to the UN migration agency IOM, a total of 842,648 people have been internally displaced, of whom 52 percent are women and 48 percent are men.
• The UN health agency WHO reported 36 attacks on healthcare facilities between September 17 and October 31, 2024, killing 85 healthcare workers and injuring 51 in the line of duty.

The situation has escalated again in recent days, according to OCHA, which reported that the Israeli army had issued movement orders for residents of Baalbek and Nabatieh shortly before airstrikes targeted these locations, along with the first evacuation order for a refugee camp.

Bombs destroy critical locations

The toll on the population has been exacerbated by the destruction of critical infrastructure, including healthcare, with many hospitals overwhelmed and urgently calling for blood donations to address the critical influx of victims.

Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza condemned the attacks on civilians and infrastructure and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile, UN agencies and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 10,000 troops in southern Lebanon continue to support conflict-affected vulnerable populations by providing essential services and supplies.

Widespread panic amid evacuation orders

According to OCHA’s latest report, Israel’s successive evacuation orders on October 30 and 31 for Baalbek had led to widespread panic and the displacement of civilians on the roads towards Zahle and Akkar. Many people spent the night in their vehicles and faced harsh weather and security conditions as they sought safety.

Similar evacuation orders have been issued in several places in the southern suburbs of Nabatieh, Tire and Beirut, further exacerbating the crisis, but such displacement orders are not consistently issued before each attack, leaving civilians uncertain and vulnerable in the face of ongoing hostilities , the UN agency said.

On October 31, the Israeli military issued its first-ever displacement order for a refugee camp – the Palestinian Rashidieh camp – along with ten villages in southern Lebanon, forcing residents to make difficult decisions amid limited options for safe refuge.

This follows attacks last month on two other camps for Palestinian refugees, which were carried out without warning or orders to move, OCHA reported.

Very dangerous conditions

Medical first responders continued to operate very dangerous situationsthe agency said.

In addition, expectant mothers have been seriously affected by escalating violence in Lebanon, according to the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency. UNFPA.

The intensified conflict across the country has affected more than 11,000 pregnant women, 1,300 of whom are expected to give birth at short notice, despite massive infrastructure losses and a healthcare system on the brink, according to UNFPA, which supports maternal health in Lebanon and Syria with critical medical, psychological and logistical assistance for displaced and vulnerable women during the ongoing crisis.

At least one child dies every day

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also warned about the devastating physical and emotional impact of the conflict on children, noting that the war left children traumatized and showing profound emotional and physical problems, including increased anxiety, aggression and sleep disorders.

At least one child has been killed and 10 injured in the country every day since October 4, 2024, according to the organization, which provides psychological support to thousands of people.

Real recovery can only begin with a permanent ceasefire that guarantees safe access to essential services for Lebanese children, UNICEF said.

Hunger is increasing

Food insecurity will worsen significantly due to the intensification of conflict and economic tensions, putting Lebanon on the list of hotspots of high concern, the report said. latest report on hunger hotspots released by UN food agencies.

From April to September 2024, 1.3 million people, or 23 percent of the Lebanese population, faced high levels of acute food insecurity, including 85,000 in emergency situations.

The report calls for an expansion of food, cash and agricultural assistance to meet the needs of communities affected by the escalating crisis in Lebanon.

Read the full report on hunger hotspots here.

Parallel economic crisis

The ongoing conflict is also deepening Lebanon’s economic crisis, thanks to the UN World Food Program (WFP) reports on the potential contraction of gross domestic production (GDP) by up to 15.6 percent.

Key sectors such as tourism and agriculture are being hit hard, exacerbating inflation and destabilizing supply chains.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that the escalation of the conflict is exacerbating the hardships faced by agriculturally dependent communities, exacerbating an already serious food security crisis across the country.

Israeli airstrikes continue to bomb food-producing areas. More than 1,900 hectares of agricultural land in the Southern and Nabatieh governorates have been damaged or remain unharvested as a result of the ongoing conflict.