BEIRUT – The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has led to a staggering humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reporting that as many as 400,000 people have been internally displaced over the past two weeks.
“People continue to flee the hostilities in Lebanon, many seeking safety in overcrowded shelters,” the UN agency said on Friday. The IOM added that more than 165,000 individuals are currently seeking refuge in 906 collective shelters across the country.
The crisis highlights the growing toll of the violence that erupted late last month when Israel launched deadly strikes across Lebanon, killing more than 1,100 people and assassinating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The conflict, which initially began in Gaza, has now spread northward with fears of an all-out regional war.
“With the needs growing, we call on the international community’s support to ensure the safety and dignity of displaced families,” the IOM pleaded, underscoring the urgent humanitarian situation unfolding in Lebanon.
Crowded shelters, scarce resources, and an uncertain future loom large for the hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes amid the escalating hostilities. Aid agencies and local authorities are struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving crisis, heightening concerns about the wellbeing of vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire.
As the conflict shows no signs of abating, the plight of Lebanon’s internally displaced people remains a pressing issue that demands the immediate attention and support of the international community.
