More than 70,000 displaced people have fled Lebanon due to Israeli bombings

September 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –

More than 70,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have fled the country, most of them crossing the border into Syria, as a result of the intensification of Israeli bombing, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“The situation is difficult for civilians devastated by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. More than 70,000 people have fled the country so far,” UNHCR posted on its account on the social network X.

The UN agency cites its representative in Lebanon, Ivo Freijsen, and its representative in Syria, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, as the source of the information about the “growing crisis in the region and how we are responding.”

On Saturday it was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, who reported that 50,000 people have fled across the border into Syria. In addition, he recalled that “there are well over 200,000 displaced people within Lebanon.”

For its part, Doctors Without Borders has reported that the bombings have affected “densely populated areas” in the south of Beirut. “The situation is chaotic. Thousands of people, including MSF teams, had to flee their homes in the dark and with nothing; some on foot. Many are still stranded in their cars,” the NGO reported.

“The situation is desperate and MSF teams are working tirelessly in the city, distributing water, hygiene kits and blankets. Thousands of people are fleeing. More than 500 schools are full. People are sleeping in their cars in the streets and hospitals “They are overwhelmed by the wounded,” the group added.

The NGO has so far distributed 400 kits of basic necessities to shelters, including hygiene materials and mattresses. Teams from the organization are also providing water and offering psychological first aid, and needs assessment work continues.

“As the Israeli bombing campaign on Lebanon continues, MSF reiterates its call for the protection of civilians and medical personnel,” he stressed.

Already on Sunday, MSF reported “scenes of chaos” in southern Beirut. “We heard, felt and saw the attacks. Our building was shaking. There was a big explosion in a place without prior warning of evacuation,” explained MSF spokesperson in Beirut Maryam Srur.

Israel has increased its attacks in recent weeks on Hezbollah targets in the east, south and in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where the group’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, died on Friday.