The Acting United Nations Relief Chief designated on Friday $10 million in emergency funding to address the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, which the local UN coordinator described as “catastrophic.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Israeli air strikes continue to affect civilians and civilian infrastructure for the fifth consecutive day of widespread military escalation. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Raza, described the destruction as catastrophic, noting that the escalation of violence has extended to areas previously unaffected, causing extensive damage.
Raza stated, “We are witnessing the bloodiest period in Lebanon in a generation, and many express fear that this might just be the beginning.” In less than a week, at least 700 people have died, thousands have been injured, and nearly 120,000 have been displaced, with numbers continuing to rise.
Since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed, and over 200,000 have been forced to flee their homes. OCHA emphasized that “the United Nations and its partners are closely coordinating with the Lebanese government to support response efforts,” highlighting that food, mattresses, hygiene supplies, and emergency medical supplies are being provided.
