The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 124,000 Lebanese are refugees or internally displaced. Thousands of Lebanese will need reconstructive surgery and physical rehabilitation after war Peace and Security
Thousands of people will need reconstructive surgery and physical rehabilitation after the devastating war in Lebanon, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday.
“Staggering” needs for specialized medical care will persist for months and years, according to WHO experts working on the front lines of the emergency response in Lebanon.
UNIFIL Statement
Meanwhile, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said an IDF bulldozer had destroyed a blue barrel marking the withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel, as well as an observation tower belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces, located immediately next to the UNIFIL position. “The deliberate destruction by the Israeli army of clearly identifiable UNIFIL property, as well as infrastructure belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces, is a flagrant violation of resolution 1701 and international law,” the UN peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon said in a statement. “We call on all parties to avoid any action that could jeopardize the cessation of hostilities.” According to UNIFIL, the IDF military operation continues north of the Blue Line. In particular, it is reported that the Israeli military is advancing north in the Eastern Sector, while the Lebanese armed forces are redeploying in the Western Sector. Amid these actions, both Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said during a daily media briefing in New York.
Assistance to “returnees”
Humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance to Lebanese who have been forced to flee their homes or are returning to their communities. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly 124,000 people are refugees or internally displaced, with more than 4,000 living in temporary shelters. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said it assisted 750,000 people displaced by the fighting in Lebanon last year, providing hot meals, food and cash assistance in shelters and communities across the country. WFP is currently trying to position food supplies as close as possible to hard-to-reach areas of the country. Since the start of the war in Lebanon, WFP has supported 17 multi-agency convoys delivering vital humanitarian aid to families affected by the conflict.