Lebanon: Flash Update #34 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 10 October 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• 2,169 people killed and 10,212 injured since 8 October 2023 (MoPH).
• 689,715 persons internally displaced since 8 October 2023, of which 52% female and 48% male (IOM).
• 186,400 people seeking refuge in 1,023 collective shelters, of which 822 have already reached their maximum capacity (DRM).
• At least 94 health workers have been killed while on duty (WHO).
• UN and partners delivered critical supplies to Rmeish, Ain Ebel, and Debel, South of the country.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Lebanon's humanitarian crisis is deteriorating quickly, with Israeli airstrikes and displacement orders expanding into more regions, including densely populated areas further devastating critical infrastructure and leaving civilians increasingly vulnerable. The Humanitarian Coordinator’s statement on the one-year mark of the start of the escalation of hostilities noted that "in just the last three weeks, the violence has intensified, causing widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, and extensive destruction across the country, marking one of the deadliest periods in Lebanon’s recent history”.
On the night of 10 October, two airstrikes struck central Beirut’s densely populated Ras al-Nabaa and Basta neighborhoods, killing more than 20 people and injuring over 100, according to MoPH. This marks the third time central Beirut has been hit. During the reporting period, Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, as well as on villages in southern and eastern Lebanon continued at high intensity. Casualties are on the rise as Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has reported 2,169 deaths and 10,212 injuries to date, with vulnerable populations continuing to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict. Continued attacks on essential services, including healthcare facilities and water supply projects, have disrupted access to these vital resources. Since 8 October 2023, some 39 attacks on healthcare facilities have resulted in the deaths of 94 healthcare workers while on duty. Fatalities among civil defense workers have also risen: five civil defense workers were killed in an attack on a civil defense center (Risala Scouts) in Derdghaya (Tyre district) on 9 October, which also reportedly impacted a neighbouring church.
Among other reported incidents, a 9 October attack on a building housing displaced families in Wardanieh (Chouf district) reportedly killed four people and severely injured their children, raising concerns among IDPs that they remain vulnerable to the violence despite having fled their homes to take refuge in areas considered more safe, i.e. for which the IDF has not issued forced displacement orders. Moreover, search and rescue teams have reportedly been unable to access sites of attacks due to the risk of further strikes. The regular issuance of forced displacement orders by the Israeli army – often shared shortly before an attack takes place – now includes at least 110 villages and urban neighbourhoods across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, with new displacement continuing as a result.
On 10 and 11 October, UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions were repeatedly hit by the Israeli army, injuring at least two peacekeepers, damaging vehicles and a communications system, and disabling monitoring cameras. In a statement, UNIFIL reminded the Israeli army and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.
WHO and the Health sector warn that rapid displacement in Lebanon is significantly increasing public health risks, with overcrowding in shelters raising the likelihood of infectious disease spread. Many displaced individuals lack essential supplies, including medications. Inadequate shelter and water supply will exacerbate health challenges as winter approaches. The ongoing hostilities and displacement are also exacerbating the barriers women and vulnerable groups already face in accessing essential services. Additionally, mobility challenges further hinder the ability of these groups, particularly the elderly and disabled, to escape conflict zones.
The escalating violence has directly affected Lebanon's education sector. Airstrikes continue to damage schools and learning centers. On 9 October, Amel Association, a national NGO, reported that one of its educational centers in Kfar Joz, in Nabatieh Governorate, was heavily damaged during an attack on a neighbouring health centre. The center was providing psychological support and education for over 400 children and is currently not operational due to the damage. Moreover, with at least 60 per cent of the country’s public schools now being used as shelters for the displaced, the start of the school year has been pushed back to 4 November, affecting more than 300,000 children’s access to education.