According to the United Nations, a quarter of Lebanese territory is now subject to Israeli military displacement orders, highlighting the increasing severity of the humanitarian crisis and the escalation of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated in a situation update released on Wednesday that “Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis is deteriorating at an alarming rate.” Israeli airstrikes have not only intensified but have also expanded into areas that were previously unaffected, increasingly targeting essential civilian infrastructure.
The report noted that displacement orders affecting over 100 villages and urban neighborhoods in southern Lebanon continue to force residents to flee their homes.
On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued new evacuation orders for specific buildings in the Haret Hreik and Hadath areas of Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut and a Hezbollah stronghold, indicating that these sites would be targeted soon.
In terms of context, the IDF reported that Israel has conducted over 1,100 airstrikes on southern Lebanon since the ground operations began earlier this month.
Teams in Beirut have reported that many Israeli strikes occur without warning, with evacuation orders often sent by text in the middle of the night when most people are asleep.
Since the escalation of the conflict, more than 1,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Additionally, over 1.2 million people have been displaced since fighting intensified last month.
The OCHA report indicated that the health sector in Lebanon is under “immense pressure” due to relentless attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, while the education sector faces “enormous challenges,” with most schools being converted into shelters.
