Lebanon emergency: Israeli airstrikes continue to drive families from their homes

By Islamic Relief

Lebanon emergency: Israeli airstrikes continue to drive families from their homes

More than 1.2 million people across Lebanon have been displaced and more than 2,787 killed as airstrikes across the country intensify further. Over 12,772 people have been injured in the attacks, which have left families sleeping on the streets as temperatures begin to dip.

More than 830,000 people are displaced within Lebanon, while the number of people fleeing Lebanon has also increased according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with approximately 425,000 people crossing into neighbouring Syria and close to 20,000 Lebanese nationals fleeing to Iraq.

Relentless bombing

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have been targeting residential areas across the country, with locations in Beirut, Bekaa and Sidon all struck over the past week. Israeli attacks were reported in the Raml neighbourhood in the city of Tyre in south-east Lebanon – at least 5 people were killed, and another 10 individuals were left injured.

Intensified attacks on Southern Lebanon over the weekend killed at least 21 people, including 3 paramedics.

At least 99 health workers have now been killed and dozens of health centres shut down. The Lebanese Red Cross has reported that their teams have regularly encountered considerable danger while responding to emergencies over the past month, with paramedics injured and 7 ambulances damaged as they try to rescue wounded civilians in south Lebanon

Many of these attacks reported across Lebanon have occurred without any warning. Israel has issued so-called ‘evacuation orders’ forcing people to leave entire areas, but then bombed escape routes. More than a quarter of Lebanon’s territory is now under these orders.

Steadfast support

Since October 2023, Islamic Relief has supported people displaced by the current escalation by providing desperately needed food, bedding and other essentials.

So far, IRW has distributed close to 16,000 food packs, alongside 4,326 hygiene kits and more than 1,300 blankets and mattresses to newly displaced people, many of whom left home with little more than the clothes on their backs.

The organization have also delivered more than 17,609 medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities to help them cope with the influx of wounded people.