UN reports over 100,000 displaced in Lebanon in a single day amid Mideast conflict

GENEVA: The United Nations has reported that more than 100,000 people were displaced in Lebanon within a 24-hour period, as Israeli air strikes and evacuation orders continue to impact the country. According to Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UNHCR representative in Lebanon, nearly 700,000 people have fled their homes in just over a week due to the recent escalation in violence.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, Lindholm Billing stated, “Lives have been upended on a massive scale.” She explained that Israeli air strikes and evacuation warnings to residents of dozens of villages have “forced families across Lebanon to flee within minutes.”

The UNHCR official noted that “more than 667,000 people in Lebanon have now registered on the (Lebanese) government’s online platform as displaced.” She further highlighted the rapid pace of the crisis, saying, “This is an increase of 100,000 in just one day.”

The recent surge in displacement follows fresh Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The UN has emphasized that the current rate of displacement is unprecedented in the region, with families being forced to leave their homes suddenly due to the ongoing conflict.

Lindholm Billing underscored the urgent humanitarian needs arising from the situation, as the large number of displaced individuals places significant strain on local resources and support systems. The UN continues to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those affected.