Buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The UN has called for $426 million to help Lebanon Humanitarian aid
UN aid agencies on Tuesday appealed to the international community for $426 million for Lebanon to support one million people displaced by Israeli shelling. Israel said it was conducting a “limited, localized and targeted” ground operation in Lebanon.
Avoid all-out war at all costs
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today he was deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict. He called for an immediate ceasefire.
“All-out war in Lebanon must be avoided at all costs, and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected,” the Secretary-General said in a statement.
Earlier this morning, the UN chief spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. He stressed that the entire United Nations system in Lebanon is mobilized to provide assistance to all those in need in the country.
“The Secretary-General calls on the international community to urgently respond to the $426 million humanitarian appeal launched in Beirut today,” the statement said.
Guterres and his representatives on the ground will continue their efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Chaos across Lebanon
Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN Relief Coordination Office (OCHA), described chaotic scenes across Lebanon. People continue to flee airstrikes that have killed more than 1,000 people in the past two weeks alone, according to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
“We can expect further displacement,” Laerke told reporters in Geneva.
“We don’t have enough stocks, we don’t have enough capacity, and that’s why we’re making this appeal, because we need more resources,” he continued.
Material being updated…