Lebanon: Flash Update #11 - Escalation of hostilities in south Lebanon, as of 08 February 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 6 February, 87,161 individuals (52 percent females) have been displaced from south Lebanon due to the ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line.

• As of 6 February, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has reported a total of 171 killed and 600 people wounded. At least 26 confirmed civilian deaths have been reported.

• On 7 February, one civilian was killed, and two others injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting a house in Khiyam, south Lebanon. On the same day, an Israeli drone attack destroyed pumping systems from the Wazzani River.

• On 26 January, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon issued a statement after visiting South Lebanon, in which he called for upholding international humanitarian law, safeguarding civilians and facilitating humanitarian access to civilians in need in south Lebanon.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Since 8 October, continued uptick in the exchange of fire at the Lebanese southern border between armed groups and Israel have been reported. The tension along the Israel-Lebanon border has escalated during the past weeks, marked by heightened military actions, including targeted attacks against armed groups beyond southern borderlines.

On 19 and 23 January, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, visited Tyre and Hasbaya districts in southern Lebanon. During these visits, he met with individuals affected by the ongoing hostilities to gain insight into the impact of the conflict on displaced families and those still residing in conflict-affected areas. At least 60,000 persons have remained in border villages highly affected by exchanges of fire.

Subsequently, on 26 January, the Humanitarian Coordinator released a statement urging the adherence to international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, and the facilitation of humanitarian access to those in need in southern Lebanon.

On 25 January, Israeli bombardments hit a house in Bazourieh, south Lebanon, injuring a woman in a nearby house. On the same day, the Amal Wahab Public School in Rihan, Jezzine, evacuated its students after four Israeli missiles struck nearby.

On 27 January, an Israeli strike destroyed a supermarket in Tyr Harfa and damaged nearby commercial shops. On 1 February, an Israeli drone attack strike in Blida, south Lebanon, led to the destruction of an ambulance.

On 7 February, a Lebanese civilian was killed, and two other people were injured, one critically, when an Israeli missile struck a house in the village of Khiam, south Lebanon, bringing the death toll of civilians to at least 26 since the beginning of the conflict.

In a separate incident on the same day, an Israeli drone attack destroyed pumping systems drawing spring water from the Wazzani River, which provides drinking supplies for around 40 southern villages.

On 7 February, UNRWA warned that the organization will no longer have funding as of the end of February, adding that operations would come to a halt during March. This will affect 250,000 Palestine refugees in Lebanon who could lose access to lifesaving services.

As of 6 February, 87,161 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are seeking refuge across Lebanon, representing less than 1 per cent increase since 30 January. As of 6 February, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported 171 killed and 600 people wounded as a result of the hostilities.

Humanitarian partners persist in encountering communication and community engagement challenges with individuals residing in border villages, particularly through phone communication. The affected population remains reluctant to respond to phone calls and share information regarding their needs over the phone, citing previous instances of phone network hacking in recent months.

Humanitarian partners continue facing access challenges in southern Lebanon, such as increased interference by de facto authorities citing security measures and restricted access to conflict-prone border regions within the 10-15-kilometer buffer zone. These challenges are exacerbated by road closures and supplier reluctance in transporting goods to certain areas, resulting in a supplier-to-supplier transfer increasing prices and duration. Districts of Marjaayoun, Bent Jbeil, Tyr, and Hasbaya, also continue to witness an acute shortage in service provision, namely health care, electricity, education, as well as the availability of fuel. Additionally, the socio-economic vulnerability of communities in hard-to-reach areas, where many rely on agriculture, is worsened by the ongoing conflict increasing the number of people in need of assistance.