City
Epaper

Airstrikes continue to kill civilians in Lebanon, intensifying displacement: UN agency

By IANS | Updated: October 22, 2024 03:30 IST

United Nations, Oct 22 The UN humanitarian agency has said that airstrikes in Lebanon continue to kill civilians ...

Open in App

United Nations, Oct 22 The UN humanitarian agency has said that airstrikes in Lebanon continue to kill civilians and displace a growing number of families.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday that hundreds of people were reportedly displaced Sunday night across the country following Israeli evacuation orders identifying a social finance network affiliated with Hezbollah, which were soon followed by airstrikes. As a result of one of these airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a UNFPA (UN Population Fund)-supported safe space for women and girls was destroyed, alongside a primary healthcare centre, Xinhua news agency reported.

In Beirut, Bekaa and Mount Lebanon, 10 facilities supported by UNFPA, including primary healthcare sites, safe spaces, and mobile maternity units, have closed due to insecurity.

Lebanese health authorities have reported more than 2,400 deaths and over 11,500 injuries since the hostilities began last October. Nearly 1.2 million people have been displaced or otherwise directly affected by the crisis.

OCHA said that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to provide support across Lebanon, including in harder-to-reach areas.

On Monday, a six-truck aid convoy, supported by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Program (WFP) and OCHA, brought humanitarian supplies to Jaboule town in Baalbek Governorate.

This was the first such delivery in Lebanon since September, the office said. The convoy brought enough food supplies to support 1,000 people for two months, along with ready-to-eat meals.

Additionally, UNICEF provided water bottles, mattresses, blankets and other items, including first aid and hygiene kits for three shelters in Jaboule town.

As of last weekend, nearly 1,100 collective shelters had opened in Lebanon, hosting some 192,000 displaced people. More than 900 of these shelters are already at full capacity, according to OCHA estimates.

The highest percentage of internally displaced people has been recorded in Beirut and Mount Lebanon Governorate.

The International Organization for Migration said that more than 800,000 people have been displaced inside Lebanon by escalating hostilities over the past year.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency updated that according to authorities, more than 420,000 people have crossed into Syria, with nearly 17,000 people arriving in Iraq.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

NationalStalin questions Centre over delimitation, warns against ‘threat' to southern states' rights

NationalDialogue only solution, says AIMJ Chief Razvi; welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, praises India’s balanced diplomacy

International"Diplomacy must now replace military action": World leaders unite after US-Iran ceasefire to demand permanent peace

InternationalIran President says ceasefire reflects nation's unity, calls it outcome of sacrifice of former Supreme Leader, public support

CricketIPL 2026: Half-centuries of Gill, Sundar, Buttler propel GT to 210 runs in Delhi

International Realted Stories

InternationalPakistan's mediation bid in West Asia conflict strains ties with China: Report

InternationalBaloch activist urges UN to review human rights situation in Balochistan

InternationalInflation and timber mismanagement emerge as key issues in PoJK

InternationalIndia, Bangladesh recalibrate ties as FM Khalilur Rahman holds high-level talks with top ministers, NSA

InternationalBrazilian Senator Bolsonaro slams Brazil-China trade model, calls for value-added manufacturing