Over 19,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon amid the military escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, coinciding with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, according to the International Organization for Migration under the United Nations on Monday.
The organization’s report highlighted an “increase in border incidents between Israel and Lebanon.” This has led to the displacement of 19,646 individuals “within the south and other areas of the country.”
There has been a daily rise in the number of displaced people since the escalation began in Lebanon. This followed an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th, with Israel retaliating with intense airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.
Regional spokesperson for the organization, Mohammed Ali Abu Al-Naja, stated, “We expect the numbers to rise” if the situation continues or escalates further in the border area, according to “France Press.”
Most of the displaced, as per Abu Al-Naja, have joined their families, while others sought refuge in three schools that were converted into shelters in the southern city of Tyre.
It should be noted that the border region has witnessed exchanges of fire, especially between Hezbollah and Israel, over the past two weeks. Palestinian fighters have also carried out several infiltration operations toward Israel.
