UNRWA chief: Lebanon’s displaced ‘traumatized by bombardment’
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has reported widespread trauma among Lebanon’s displaced population, stemming from relentless bombardment and the uncertainty of ongoing Israeli offensives.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, shared his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), urging the international community to ensure the “protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure” amid Israel’s continued airstrikes on Lebanon.
“We have opened seven shelters for the displaced, currently hosting 1,600 people, including Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians,” Lazzarini posted.
His remarks came in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Friday, which leveled several residential buildings in Beirut.
He highlighted that for many of the displaced, this situation is a "re-lived trauma", given Lebanon's long history of repeated cycles of conflict.
Lazzarini warned that an escalation of the war would only worsen the suffering of civilians.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment has left Lebanon and its citizens in a dire humanitarian situation.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Lebanon, “humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels that have exhausted current efforts and resources,” and additional support is urgently required.
OCHA emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and aiding the government in assessing and meeting the growing needs.
Late Friday, thousands of residents took to the streets of Beirut following evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for the city’s southern suburbs, compounding an already severe displacement crisis.
The city has seen an influx of people fleeing airstrikes in southern Lebanon in recent days.
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced that its jet fighters had targeted “dozens” of positions in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, with airstrikes continuing into the following day.
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