Lebanon’s refugee flow to Syria Middle East crisis: UN Human Rights Office condemns escalating violence Peace and security
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that mission personnel were injured “in two explosions” near an observation tower, a day after another incident involving Israeli gunfire.
UN peacekeepers have come under fire in Lebanon for a second day in a row, as Israel continues to intensify its bombing of Beirut and parts of the south, while Hezbollah continues to strike Israel.
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called on both sides to “put an end to the killing, destruction and bellicose rhetoric,” saying the situation for civilians in Lebanon, Gaza, Israel and Syria is worsening by the day.
On Friday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two peacekeepers were injured “after two explosions” near an observation tower. On Thursday, two UNIFIL service members were wounded after an IDF Merkava tank fired at an observation tower inside UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
“These incidents once again place UN peacekeepers serving in southern Lebanon at the request of the Security Council under resolution 1701 (2006) at very serious risk,” the UN human rights agency said in a statement.
Beirut under attack
Speaking in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the densely populated Lebanese capital was “increasingly subject to Israeli airstrikes,” which, according to Lebanese authorities, over the past year more than 2,100 people have died.
Hezbollah and other armed groups continue to fire rockets into Israel, causing further civilian casualties, the OHCHR spokeswoman said.
Despite calls to respect international humanitarian law, health facilities are coming under attack: according to the Lebanese authorities, 96 primary health care centres and clinics have been closed since October 5. “We have also had several reports of airstrikes on other health centres, as well as the deaths of paramedics and firefighters,” Shamdasani said. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 49 health workers have been killed in nine confirmed attacks since September 30.
UN peacekeepers are deployed in southern Lebanon under a 2006 Security Council mandate. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL said in a statement after yesterday’s shelling.
Attacks on Israel also continue. “On October 9 and 10, Hezbollah said it had launched at least 360 rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel,” Shamdasani said. – Two people were killed in a rocket attack on the border town of Kiryat Shmona on October 9, a day after five more were wounded in a rocket attack on Haifa.”
Gaza situation
In Gaza, UN aid workers are warning that the situation for civilians is worsening as the Israeli military has resumed its advance north. Some 400,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
“Over the past week, the Israeli military has stepped up operations in northern Gaza, further cutting off the area from the rest of the Strip and once again putting the lives of civilians in these areas at risk,” Shamdasani said. “In recent days, there has been intense attacks, shelling, drone fire and ground operations that have destroyed buildings and caused suffering to people. These actions have resulted in numerous casualties and further mass displacement in the area.”
Polio Vaccination
UN agencies and their partners are preparing to roll out the second phase of a mass polio vaccination campaign next week.
WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Dr Rick Peperkorn expressed concern that the chronic lack of humanitarian access to the enclave is causing the situation to deteriorate, particularly in northern Gaza.
“Many hospitals in the north are running out of fuel. Most UN and other missions are unable to reach the northern areas. There is already a shortage of some medicines there,” Dr. Piperkorn said, recalling that three aid convoys intended for residents of villages north of Wadi Gaza were unable to reach their destinations this week.