Israeli air strikes and mass evacuation orders have displaced nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon in just over a week, with more than 100,000 fleeing within a single day, the United Nations reported on Tuesday.
“Lives have been upended on a massive scale,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UNHCR representative in Lebanon. She noted that air raids and warnings in dozens of villages forced families to evacuate within minutes. “More than 667,000 people in Lebanon have now registered as displaced on the government’s online platform,” she added.
“This is an increase of 100,000 in just one day,” Lindholm Billing said, highlighting that the pace of displacement is faster than during Israel’s last conflict with Hezbollah in 2024.
Lebanon’s disaster management unit reported that 759,300 people had registered as displaced, including 122,600 staying in government shelters. Around 120,000 of the displaced are in collective government-designated sites, while many others are with relatives, friends, or seeking accommodation elsewhere.
“Many of these people, some displaced for the second time since the 2024 hostilities, fled with almost nothing, seeking safety in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, northern districts, and the Beqaa region,” Lindholm Billing said.
The World Health Organization warned that overcrowding in shelters and host homes is increasing public health risks, including potential disease outbreaks, disruptions to routine medical services, and interruptions in care for chronic illnesses, maternal health, and mental health conditions.
Since March 2, Israeli attacks have killed at least 486 people and wounded over 1,300, according to Lebanese authorities. Fresh strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon on Tuesday after the Israeli military issued new evacuation warnings.
“Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the southern suburbs,” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported. Footage showed smoke rising from areas under Hezbollah control, with the Israeli military stating it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure.
In southern Lebanon, strikes were reported in Abbassiyeh near Tyre, the coastal city of Sidon, and other areas. Israel, which continued operations despite a 2024 ceasefire, has also deployed ground troops near the border.
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