UNITED NATIONS, Oct 10 (IPS) – A week has passed since the start of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Over the past three weeks, Lebanon has seen a significant increase in hostilities by Israeli forces. Routine bombings have resulted in significant civilian casualties and the failure of several critical infrastructures. The United Nations warns that displacement continues to rise as shelters approach maximum capacity.
Last Sunday, October 6, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched more than 30 airstrikes on the outskirts of Beirut. The next day, on the 7th, the IDF stated that it had launched more than 120 attacks on Hezbollah targets “within an hour”. This Tuesday, the IDF launched airstrikes on the governorates of South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel and Mount Lebanon, killing at least 36 people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Despite the United States urging Israel to attack Hezbollah’s military bases, the attacks have become increasingly indiscriminate.
According to the humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, more than 2,000 Lebanese have been killed in the past year, including more than 100 children and 300 women. This surpasses the death toll of the 2006 Lebanon War and marks one of the deadliest periods in the country’s history. Routine airstrikes have leveled homes, affecting more than 1 million people, most of whom have been displaced several times.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) registered more than 540,000 displaced persons in the past year. Repeated evacuation orders have pushed more than 58,890 people from southern Lebanon to the northern regions, while more than 300,000 people have fled to neighboring Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Türkiye. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that a total of more than 1.2 million people have been displaced. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that about 350,000 of them are children.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported numerous firefights and airstrikes over the weekend. These attacks have placed a heavy burden on humanitarian workers and the Lebanese healthcare system. UNIFIL has reported that its peacekeeping personnel had to take refuge in bunkers to avoid IDF fire. In addition, 77 World Health Organization (WHO) aid workers have died in the past year.
“According to Lebanese authorities, 36 incidents targeting healthcare facilities were reported between October 8, 2023 and October 4, 2024. At least 96 primary health care centers and three hospitals have been forced to close due to the hostilities,” Stéphane said. Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary General, during a UN press conference on October 7.
On October 4, Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, Mays al-Jabal Governmental Hospital and Salah Ghandoor Hospital reported being non-operational after continued bombing. The three hospitals called on the WHO and the UN to provide protection for patients and staff during an evacuation.
They told the official Lebanese News Agency that “the continued crime against the medical sector and emergency teams has reached a level of audacity in violating UN charters and human rights, especially regarding the right to medical care and hospitalization for all individuals.”
The recent attacks have also taken a significant toll on Lebanon’s education sector. Figures from OCHA show that more than 75 percent of Lebanese schools have been converted into shelters for displaced people, with more than 80 percent of them reaching maximum capacity. The escalation of hostilities from Israel has led Lebanese authorities to postpone the upcoming school year. Lebanese Education Minister Abbas Halabi said children will return to school on November 4, but this remains uncertain as attacks become more common.
Ongoing attacks have resulted in more than 25 water treatment plants being damaged. Dujarric said more than 300,000 Lebanese citizens are affected by water shortages. The UN and its affiliated organizations distribute safe drinking water to thousands of people in displaced persons shelters.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese currently lack access to food as destruction and security problems have significantly reduced agricultural yields. The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Council for Scientific Research report that approximately 4,500 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed, including 47,000 olive trees. This conflict also killed 340,000 farm animals.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than 90 percent of children do not have access to hot meals during the day. The World Food Program reports that more than 2.5 million people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. Action Against Hunger estimates that more than 1.4 million people are expected to face critical levels of hunger by the end of the year.
Health and humanitarian organizations fear that conditions in Lebanon could become as dire as in Gaza if a ceasefire agreement is not reached soon. UN Secretary General António Guterres warned: “All-out war must be avoided at all costs in Lebanon, and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected”.
Currently, humanitarian organizations are on the frontlines of this crisis, distributing hot meals, clean drinking water and cash transfers to affected communities. The UN launched a Flash Appeal last week, requiring $426 million. Currently, only 12 percent of that goal has been achieved. Donors are urged to contribute as hostilities continue to escalate.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
