Lebanon: Flash Update #42 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 7 November 2024

This report is produced by OCHA Lebanon in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Inter Sector Coordination Group. It covers the period from 5 to 7 November 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3,103 people killed and 13,819 injured since 8 October 2023. 192 children killed and 1,255 injured among total casualties reported (MoPH).
• 875,180 people internally displaced of whom 52% female and 48% male (IOM). • Of the $426 million requested in the Flash Appeal, only 35% has been received.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The number and impact of Israeli airstrikes continue to escalate across multiple regions of Lebanon, particularly in Nabatieh, South Lebanon, Bekaa, Baalbeck El-Hermel and Mount Lebanon governorates. Israeli airstrikes left at least 52 people dead and 161 injured in a 24-hour period on 6-7 November, bringing the total death toll to 3,103 dead and 13,856 injured since October 2023, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

On 6 November, airstrikes intensified in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including a strike near the airport. Displacement orders were issued for residents of Haret Hreik, Laylaki, Ouzai, Tahwit El-Ghadir, and Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut. An airstrike on 5 November targeting a residential building in Barja in Mount Lebanon’s Chouf region killed 20 people and injured at least 14 people, according to MoPH, some of whom were reportedly displaced people sheltering nearby, according to national authorities.

Recent strikes have damaged the solar-powered water system at the Rmeich pumping station in Tyre District, South Governorate, disrupting water access for an estimated 1,325 households, including 175 displaced families sheltering in Rmeich. Additionally, strikes have severed the primary access road south of Ain Ebl to Rmeich, leaving secondary routes through Debl and Qanine as the only alternatives for reaching the area.

UNHCR reports rising protection risks in Lebanon as hostilities increase, impacting safety, shelter, and mental health. Thousands, including displaced refugees and Lebanese, are forced to sleep in open areas or risk eviction, especially in conflict zones. Vulnerable groups - women, children, and persons with disabilities - face heightened violence, harassment, and mental health issues due to inadequate shelter and limited services. Access to aid is further restricted by mobility concerns and administrative barriers, compounding vulnerabilities.

The Health Sector’s latest report highlights the severe impact of ongoing hostilities on healthcare workers, facilities, and services in Lebanon. Around 100 PHCCs and dispensaries, as well as eight hospitals, have closed. Insecurity and limited access in regions like Bekaa and Baalbek are hindering Cholera preparedness and response efforts. Furthermore, insufficient resources and competing priorities are preventing Health Sector partners from sustaining and scaling up emergency services.

As of 6 November, 12 out of 27 UNRWA health centers are closed due to the security context while the remaining 15 remain operational. Family health teams are rotating across 11 shelters to provide essential care. The 2024/2025 academic year, initially set to begin on 4 November, is delayed as the education programme assesses the situation. UNRWA remains committed to serving 38,006 students in grades 1–12, including 19,760 girls and 18,246 boys, despite ongoing disruptions.

On 7 November, UNIFIL reported that five peacekeepers in South Lebanon were injured when a drone strike hit a car near their vehicle as they were passing through Saida, Tyre District.