Lebanon’s refugee flow to Syria Lebanon crisis: population of a quarter of the country forced to evacuate Peace and security
Amid the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) on Tuesday called for an independent investigation into an incident that left 22 people dead. Israel reportedly struck a residential building in northern Lebanon.
According to available information, 12 women and two children were among those killed, said OHCHR spokesman Jeremy Lawrence.
Civilian Casualties
“As far as we know, a four-story residential building was hit. And this raises legitimate concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law,” he said. The OHCHR calls for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into the incident, Lawrence said.
Read also:
Middle East crisis: UN Human Rights Office condemns escalation of violence
The death toll in Lebanon since the Gaza war began in October 2023 has reached more than 2,200 and continues to rise, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). More than 10,000 people have also been injured in the fighting.
Mass evacuation
Meanwhile, more than 25 percent of Lebanon is under Israeli evacuation warnings, the UNHCR said. “People are fleeing without even the basic necessities,” said Rema Jamus Imseis, UNHCR’s Middle East director. “Many are homeless, sleeping in the open to escape the fighting, and are in dire need of support.”
According to the government, some 1.2 million people have now been forced to flee their homes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the population is “experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in decades.”
Humanitarian Operations
At the same time, humanitarian workers continue to work in these extremely dangerous conditions, facing numerous difficulties, said Rema Jamus Imseis. The main problem is the lack of safe humanitarian access to people in need of assistance.
The UNHCR representative also recalled that more than 283 thousand people crossed the border from Lebanon to Syria: about 70 percent of them are Syrians. According to her, it is extremely difficult to reach the border.
OCHA also added that due to the fighting, Lebanon’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse. The UN once again emphasized that attacks on medical facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law.