This follows Israeli airstrikes in the city’s southern suburbs that targeted the leader of the armed Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed, according to media reports.
The development comes amid escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the UN-monitored dividing line in southern Lebanon, known as the Blue Line, against the backdrop of the nearly year-long war in Gaza.
Avoid all-out war
The spokesman for the Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, gave the floor a statement stressing that “this cycle of violence must stop now, and all parties must step back from the brink.”
“The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the wider region cannot afford all-out war.” he said.
Mr Guterres urged the parties to recommit to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and immediately return to the cessation of hostilities.
Resolution 1701 was adopted in August 2006 and aimed to end the war that broke out in Lebanon that year between Israel and Hezbollah. It called for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the creation of a demilitarized zone.
The Secretary-General also reiterated his long-standing call for this an immediate ceasefire in Gaza And the release of all hostages held in the enclave.
Families on the move
The attacks in Beirut have led to a new wave of mass displacement.
In response, the UN children’s agency UNICEFhas expanded shelter activities to support families forced to move.
Emergency supplies are being distributed to more than 5,000 people, UNICEF said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, the number of people moving to Lebanon’s border with Syria is “growing rapidly”, the UN refugee agency said. UNHCR.
The new arrivals, including women, children and the elderly, “are exhausted after traveling for hours without food and water,” UNHCR said in a report. tweet.
Air raids displace thousands
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have forced thousands of people to flee their homes, including Palestinian refugees living in the country.
Cross-border incidents have disappeared 211,319 people since October 2023, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Teams from the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees UNRWAresponse, Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said on Saturday a tweet.
Trauma, uncertainty and fear
UNRWA has opened seven emergency shelters across the country, currently housing 1,600 people, including Lebanese citizens and Palestinian and Syrian refugees.
“Many are traumatized by the continued bombardment, uncertainty and fears,” Mr Lazzarini said. “For some, it is a relived trauma, given the repeated cycles of conflict in recent decades.”
He warned that further extension of the war would only bring more suffering to civilians.
Mr Lazzarini ended the tweet by emphasizing that civilians must be protected, while civilian infrastructure should not be targeted.
