UN Migration Agency Reports 400,000 Displaced in Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Friday that approximately 400,000 individuals have been internally displaced in Lebanon over the past two weeks due to ongoing Israeli attacks, Arab News reported.
The agency reported that many displaced people are seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters, with over 165,000 individuals currently residing in 906 collective shelters across the country.
The humanitarian crisis has intensified as Israel’s military operations spread to Lebanon, resulting in over 1,100 fatalities, including the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. UN officials indicated that most of Lebanon’s nearly 900 government-established shelters are at full capacity, forcing many to sleep in public parks or on the streets.
On Thursday alone, Israeli strikes resulted in 37 deaths and 151 injuries, with nine casualties from an apartment building near key government locations in Beirut. The conflict has led to significant casualties, with nearly 2,000 people killed in Lebanon since the hostilities escalated.
As the situation worsens, the IOM has called for urgent international support to ensure the safety and dignity of displaced families. Additionally, many live-in domestic workers, primarily from Egypt, Sudan, and Sri Lanka, are facing abandonment by employers and limited shelter options.
