Flow of refugees from Lebanon rushes to Syria. Middle East: Half a million people have fled Lebanon, Gaza prepares to evacuate seriously ill patients Humanitarian aid
According to the latest data, more than half a million people have already fled Lebanon to Syria and Iraq. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that about 473,000 Lebanese, Syrians and third-country nationals have crossed the Lebanese border into Syria due to the escalation of hostilities related to the war in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Syrians make up about 70 percent of the refugees.
The agency also cites data from Iraqi authorities, according to which 28,350 refugees arrived in the country from Lebanon, fleeing bombings and Israeli orders to evacuate.
UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon clear roads
The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is clearing rubble and repairing damaged roads to continue operations under a Security Council mandate.
Images posted by UNIFIL on social media show large craters left by the bombings. Bulldozers are filling craters with earth and clearing away the rubble of damaged buildings.
Gaza: Seriously ill patients prepared for evacuation
More than 100 critically ill patients are to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory Rick Pieperkorn said.
Meanwhile, the polio vaccination campaign in the Strip has been extended by one day, with WHO staff today attempting to reach four densely populated areas they had previously been unable to reach. The WHO says the latest round of the campaign in northern Gaza has vaccinated some 88 percent of children under 10.
A makeshift school for children in northern Gaza
The UNRWA agency for Palestine refugees says a makeshift school has been set up in northern Gaza to help bring some sense of normalcy to children amid the bombing, destruction and suffering.
About 500 children are studying maths and other subjects. “There is a very positive atmosphere here… it is good to see the children focused on their studies. “They have books, stationery and they are smiling – many of them are smiling,” said UNRWA worker Louise Wateridge. “That’s what education can do,” she added.