The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has deteriorated drastically as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East intensifies, leaving nearly 700,000 people displaced and 84 children dead, recent reports from United Nations agencies. The widespread violence has upended countless lives across Lebanon, creating one of the most severe crises in the region in recent years.
Lebanon’s involvement in the conflict escalated sharply this month after Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, launched a series of rocket and drone attacks targeting Israel. In retaliation, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes and bombardments across Lebanese territory, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure. However, these military operations have resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction, further exacerbating the humanitarian emergency.
the World Health Organization, the conflict has claimed the lives of 486 individuals so far, with over 1,300 people injured, including 259 children. Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO representative in Lebanon, highlighted the alarming toll on children, noting that nearly 100 young lives have been lost in just the first week of fighting. He emphasized that the majority of these casualties occurred in densely populated urban areas such as Beirut, where Israeli airstrikes, while targeting militant positions, have put countless civilians at grave risk.
The scale of displacement within Lebanon is unprecedented, surpassing the figures seen during the 2023-24 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The UN Refugee Agency noted that during that earlier confrontation, approximately 886,000 people were forced to flee their homes inside Lebanon, while tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated northern towns near the Lebanese border. The current wave of displacement is driven largely by evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas that have become focal points of the conflict.
These evacuation directives have raised serious concerns regarding international humanitarian law, as pointed out by the UN human rights chief. The mass movement of civilians has placed enormous pressure on Lebanon’s already fragile healthcare system. The WHO has warned that hospitals and frontline medical responders are struggling to cope with the surge in casualties. Five hospitals have ceased operations entirely, four others have sustained partial damage, and 43 primary healthcare centers—mostly in the south—have been forced to close, severely limiting access to essential medical services.
Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UNHCR representative in Lebanon, described the desperation of those fleeing the violence. Many displaced individuals are returning to areas they had previously left during the 2024 conflict, only to find their homes destroyed and loved ones lost. This grim reality has compelled people to leave immediately, without waiting to see how the situation might evolve. Currently, around 120,000 displaced persons are residing in government-designated shelters, while many others are still searching for safe accommodation.
Billing further detailed the dire living conditions faced by those displaced, with numerous families staying with relatives or friends, while others resort to sleeping in their vehicles or on sidewalks, highlighting the acute shortage of shelter and resources. The humanitarian community continues to call for urgent international assistance to address the mounting needs of Lebanon’s displaced population and to protect civilians caught in the crossfire of this escalating conflict.
