In a humanitarian crisis that has deepened amid the broader Middle East war, Lebanon’s population is grappling with a severe displacement surge. Nearly 700,000 people have fled evacuation zones as they seek safety from Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
The escalation of the conflict in Lebanon since Iranian-backed fighters launched rockets and drones into Israel this month has left more than 84 children dead and displaced nearly 667,000 others. This tally includes over 259 injured children. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Health Organization (WHO) have reported these alarming figures.
The attacks, which Israeli officials assert are aimed at Hezbollah targets, have targeted urban centers in Beirut, resulting in high casualties among civilian populations. According to WHO representative Abdinasir Abubakar, the situation is dire: “This seven-day conflict has already seen almost 100 children lose their lives.” He elaborates that Israel’s airstrikes are endangering many more civilians by intensifying displacement.
Lebanon’s current rate of displacement is surging faster than it did during the 2023-24 war between Hezbollah and Israel, when over 886,000 people were internally displaced. In Lebanon’s latest conflict, the UNHCR notes that evacuation orders from the Israeli army for southern Lebanon and Beirut’s densely populated southern suburbs have exacerbated this crisis.
The WHO warns of significant strain on hospitals and frontline responders, as they struggle to manage a swelling tide of patients in an already stretched health system. Five out of ten operational hospitals are now non-functional, with four partially damaged and 43 primary healthcare centers closed—mostly in the evacuated south region.
As more families face displacement for what seems like an uncertain future, UNHCR representative Karolina Lindholm Billing underscores the urgency: “Many people, including those who were displaced before, are leaving immediately without waiting to see what will happen next.” She highlights that many are staying with relatives or friends in makeshift accommodations while others seek alternative shelter. The images of caravans parked along streets and sleeping on sidewalks vividly depict this chaotic situation.
The UNHCR further reports that 120,000 people are currently residing in government-designated shelters, though another 847,000 remain searching for temporary accommodation or support. These figures underscore the rapid displacement and widespread suffering in Lebanon, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and protection measures to mitigate the escalating humanitarian catastrophe.