UNHCR Condemns Escalating Military Evacuations Covering 25% of Lebanon’s Territory

GENEVA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed severe condemnation of the escalating military evacuation orders that now affect a quarter of Lebanon's territory, highlighting the profound impact on the displaced populations and the operational challenges for humanitarian efforts. According to Kuwait News Agency, UNHCR's Middle East director, Rema Imseis, detailed the dire situation at a press conference in Geneva. She reported that over 20 villages in southern Lebanon have been added to the list of regions under evacuation. This exacerbates the displacement issue, with more than 1 million individuals forced to leave their homes in a nation of around 5 million, positioning almost one in five residents as displaced due to the ongoing conflict. Imseis further noted that the refugees are predominantly housed in government-assigned collective shelters, which have now reached critical capacity. Out of over 1000 shelters established, primarily in educational institutions, more than 800 are filled to capacity. This situation has led to 70 percent of schools being repurposed as temporary shelters, significantly disrupting the education of children. The healthcare infrastructure is also under severe strain, with Imseis reporting that out of more than 200 primary healthcare centers operating in conflict zones, at least 100 have been forced to shut down. She emphasized the perilous conditions faced by humanitarian workers, mentioning that aid convoys frequently require approvals to navigate through conflict-ridden areas, many of which remain inaccessible due to airstrikes and general insecurity. Additionally, the situation has had a cross-border impact, with over 283,000 people fleeing to Syria, 70 percent of whom are Syrians in critical need of humanitarian aid. Imseis called on the international community for immediate assistance to both Lebanon and Syria to help manage the escalating humanitarian crisis. She stressed the necessity of a ceasefire to end what she described as a "nightmare ."