The number of displaced people in Lebanon is approaching 1.2 million. Beirut hit by massive airstrikes amid reports of US-Iran ceasefire Peace and Security
Hopes that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran announced yesterday would help ease tensions in the Middle East have been dampened by a sharp escalation of violence in Lebanon. Beirut and other parts of the country were hit by massive airstrikes on Wednesday.
UN Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York via video link, said that “the sound that has been echoing throughout Beirut for the last three hours… is the wail of ambulance sirens.”
He noted that an airstrike on a cafe in the early morning killed eight people. More than a dozen strikes were later recorded. “Then, at around 2:15 local time, the IDF reported that it had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in about 10 minutes,” Riza said.
Although exact data is not yet available, hundreds of people are reported to have been killed and injured and hospitals are overwhelmed. Riza noted that, according to health authorities, more than 1,500 people have died in Lebanon since the escalation began on March 2, including 130 children. “This is a huge tragedy for the civilian population. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” he said.
The number of displaced people is now approaching 1.2 million, meaning nearly 20 percent of the country’s residents have fled their homes. About 138 thousand people are taking shelter in 678 collective shelters, mostly in schools.
Meanwhile, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Janine Hennis-Plasschaert made a statement at platform X.
“Today’s wave of IDF strikes comes just at a time when hopes for an end to the violence and destruction began to emerge. This cannot continue. Neither side can achieve victory through arms,” she said.
“The time has come to stop all hostilities, begin direct negotiations and develop a clear plan of action based on resolution 1701,” added Hennis-Plasschaert.