The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) published a warning on Friday that Israeli attacks and widespread evacuation orders are worsening the humanitarian crisis. Since March 2nd, more than a million people, one in five residents, have had to leave their homes.
The residents are also not safe on flights. Israeli attacks targeted Beirut’s central Zolak Blat and Bashoura districts, areas where displaced people sought refuge. Bridges in the south were attacked and destroyed, isolating 150,000 people and limiting their access to humanitarian assistance.
UNHCR representative Karolina Lindholm Billing emphasized that violence and exploitation of the situation can be mitigated by supporting the emergency measures outlined in the UNHCR Regulation Lebanon Flash Appeal. Billing summarized UNHCR’s activities:
UNHCR continues to lead the protection and shelter sector alongside the Ministry of Social Affairs and NGO partners, delivering over 198,000 essential supplies while working to improve privacy and dignity in shelters. To date, UNHCR and its partners have supported more than 27,000 people with protection services, including psychosocial support, recreational activities, counseling and targeted assistance to the most vulnerable. With sufficient funding from our initial appeal of more than $60 million, we can expand these programs as part of the multi-agency response.
The UNHCR briefing note follows statements from other UN experts and bodies warning that Israeli actions in Lebanon could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. On March 14, UN officials, including Francesca Albanese, issued a press release claiming that Israeli bombing and evacuation communications could amount to a threat Crimes against humanity of forced expulsion. The UN Human Rights Office released a statement on Tuesday, March 17, describing Israeli attacks on homes and civilian infrastructure as possible war crimes. Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan emphasized that warring parties must distinguish between civilian and military targets.di
