Lebanon: Flash Update #32 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 4 October 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• 1,699 conflict-affected deaths and 9,781 injuries (MoPH/WHO).
• 284,894 people have fled Lebanon since 23 September (IOM).
• 7 paramedics and civil defense personnel killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a relief and civil defense center in al-Bashoura, central Beirut on 2 October.
• Over 1,000 civilians aided to leave border villages of Ain Ibl and Rmeish (South Lebanon) for Beirut.
• 690 children injured in Lebanon in last six weeks (UNICEF).

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is escalating daily, driven by increasingly intense exchange of hostilities across the Blue Line, with Israeli air strikes targeting continually expanding geographically as well as critical civilian infrastructure. In the two weeks since 23 September, conflict-related deaths have increased by more than 200%, to 1,699 as of 3 October 2024, according to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), while over 9,781 people have been injured since 8 October 2023. UNICEF reported that 690 children have been injured in the last 6 weeks, bringing the total number of conflict-related injuries among children to 890 since last year.

The health system has suffered repeated attacks, with 36 incidents targeting healthcare facilities reported between 8 October 2023 and 4 October 2024. At least 77 health workers were killed while on duty between 8 October 2023 and 4 October 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), of which 28 in a 24-hour period on 2-3 October. At least 96 primary health care centers (PHCCs) and dispensaries, as well as three hospitals, have been forced to close as a result of the conflict, severely limiting access to critical medical care in surrounding areas. Additionally, MoPH reported damage to at least ten hospitals across the country. On 3 October, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, deplored the alarming increase in attacks against healthcare.

The ongoing military operations and displacement orders issued by the Israeli army are driving new waves of displacement, particularly from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. As of 3 October, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had recorded 541,527 internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the onset of the crisis, reflecting an increase of 385% over the past two weeks. Some 892 collective shelters have been identified, accommodating more than 163,000 people, as reported by the national Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit on 3 October.

Humanitarians are calling urgently for increased funding to meet the growing needs of those affected by the escalating crisis in Lebanon, with at least $426 million required to support one million people directly affected and/or displaced by the crisis, according to the Lebanon Flash Appeal launched on 1 October. and to prioritize the protection of civilians and ensure that aid reaches those who are most vulnerable during this dire situation.