UNRWA chief: Lebanon’s displaced ‘traumatized by bombardment’
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Philippe Lazzarini warns that escalation will exacerbate human suffering and that ongoing Israeli assaults place Lebanon and its people in a desperate humanitarian position.
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Families sit on the ground in Martyrs' Square after fleeing the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut's Southern Suburb on September 28, 2024. (AP)
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has described significant trauma among Lebanon's displaced population as a result of persistent bombardment and the uncertainty of continued Israeli aggression.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's Commissioner-General, expressed his worry on X imploring the international community to ensure the "protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure" amid "Israel's" ongoing attacks on Lebanon.
"We have opened seven shelters for the displaced, currently hosting 1,600 people, including Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians," Lazzarini stated.
His comments came in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut that destroyed multiple residential structures on Friday and resulted in the martyrdom of the leader of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
He emphasized that, given Lebanon's long history of war cycles, many of the refugees are experiencing "re-lived trauma" in current circumstances.
Lazzarini cautioned that escalation will exacerbate human suffering and that ongoing Israeli assaults place Lebanon and its people in a desperate humanitarian position.
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 immediate assistance is necessary.
OCHA stressed the significance of safeguarding people and assisting the government in identifying and responding to emerging requirements.
Thousands of Beirut citizens flocked to the streets late Friday as the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for the city's Southern Suburb, exacerbating an already severe displacement situation.
In recent days, the city has experienced a surge in the number of individuals escaping southern Lebanon's air attacks.
Lebanon orders hospital evacuations in Southern Suburb of Beirut
Lebanon's Health Ministry announced plans on Saturday to evacuate hospitals in the Southern Suburb of Beirut as Israeli airstrikes intensify in the area.
In a statement, the Ministry urged hospitals in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and other unaffected regions to suspend non-urgent cases until the end of the week in order to accommodate patients from the southern suburbs.
The move signals grave concerns that "Israel" may target hospitals in Lebanon, following its documented violations of international law in Gaza where medical facilities have recurrently been bombed. This fear is compounded by the recent escalation of airstrikes in southern Beirut, raising alarm about the safety of civilian infrastructure and medical institutions.
On Saturday morning, Al Mayadeen's cameras captured footage of extensive destruction and damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in Beirut's Southern Suburb, following a series of brutal Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli military renewed a series of intense airstrikes on Beirut's Southern Suburb overnight, destroying residential buildings and igniting widespread fires, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
Israeli warplanes carried out more than 30 airstrikes overnight Friday, targeting buildings in the areas of Burj al-Barajneh, Kafaat, Choueifat, Hadath, al-Laylaki, and Mreijeh. Additionally, the airstrikes hit a house in the Jamous area, according to our correspondent.
The Israeli airstrikes caused fires and massive destruction in several sites and buildings in the Southern Suburb, leading to a wave of forcible displacement.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent also reported that the Israeli bombardment created what resembled "fire belts" in parts of the southern suburbs.
Furthermore, a fire broke out as a result of a strike on a fuel station in the Cocodi area, as reported by our correspondent.
Despite the extensive Israeli attacks on the Lebanese capital, air traffic at Beirut Airport continued uninterrupted.
