The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, revealed that the ongoing crises in Lebanon throughout 2024 have left 3.7 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
This figure includes Lebanese citizens affected by the economic collapse, as well as Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and other migrants. Riza emphasized that the ongoing conflict has severely weakened the Lebanese state’s ability to address political, economic, and security challenges.
According to the UN Information Centre, Riza highlighted the urgent need for successful political and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, noting that the situation in Lebanon has “deteriorated dramatically” in recent weeks.
He stressed the critical importance of de-escalation, particularly given the rising tensions over the past three weeks.
Riza pointed out that over the past ten months, nearly 200,000 people have been displaced due to cross-border clashes along the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon and Israel. Of these, more than 110,000 are within Lebanon.
Additionally, nearly 150,000 people remain within ten kilometers of the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, an area that is regularly affected by shelling and airstrikes.
The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 130 civilians in Lebanon, including 10 Syrians last week, along with 21 aid workers and at least three journalists.
During a recent visit to a village in southern Lebanon to inspect a relief center, Riza reiterated the need for intensified efforts to end the hostilities, seek a diplomatic political solution, and ensure the continuous protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.
