Lebanon: Flash Update #9 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 16 March 2026

HIGHLIGHTS

• High-intensity airstrikes across Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern/eastern Lebanon have resulted in at least 886 deaths and 2,141 injuries.
• Over 1 million people are displaced, majority outside formal shelters. Overcrowding, inadequate WASH conditions, and exposure to harsh weather are exacerbating vulnerabilities and public health risks.
• Expanded displacement orders now cover ~14% of Lebanon’s territory, triggering repeated displacement, and increasing fear among civilians.
• Continued attacks on civilians, healthcare, and civilian infrastructure underscore the urgent need to respect international humanitarian law, ensure protection of civilians, and safeguard humanitarian access.

Situation Overview

Airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as on villages across southern and eastern Lebanon, have continued at high intensity. The human toll continues to mount. As of 16 March, the Ministry of Public Health reports at least 886 people killed and 2,141 injured since the escalation began, including 111 children among the fatalities and 332 children among the injured. Civilians, especially women, children, and other vulnerable populations, continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.

Attacks impacting civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, continue to raise serious concerns. To date, the number of incidents affecting healthcare facilities has been increasing daily, resulting in the deaths of 30 healthcare workers while on duty. This is further constraining the health system’s capacity to respond to growing needs. Such incidents highlight the mounting strain on critical services and the increased risks faced by medical personnel attempting to provide life-saving care. On 16 March, at least 2 paramedics were killed, and one was injured due to dual Israeli attacks in Kfarsyr, Nabatieh district, and one paramedic was killed and one was injured due to Israeli attacks on healthcare workers in Yater village, Tyre district.

Displacement orders issued by the Israeli Forces continue to drive mass-scale movement of people. Official figures indicate that over one million people – around 19 per cent of Lebanon’s population – have self-registered as displaced. Many families have fled multiple times as hostilities reach new areas. Only around 12.5 per cent (132,742) of registered displaced people are in collective shelters, with the remainder relying on host families or informal arrangements. Despite the efforts of the Government of Lebanon to expand the capacity of collective shelters, many displaced people remain without adequate accommodation. In Beirut Governorate, displaced families reported sheltering in streets, unfinished buildings, and makeshift tents, reflecting the limited availability of suitable shelter space. Overcrowding in collective shelters and inadequate access to safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene supplies are raising concerns about deteriorating living conditions and heightened public health risks. Heavy rain and adverse weather over the past few days have exacerbated humanitarian needs, worsening living conditions in informal sites, and have increasingly reflected widespread public concern and solidarity with displaced families, highlighting the scale of humanitarian needs and the strain on host communities.

Access to adequate collective shelter for the Lebanese and non-Lebanese population remains paramount for an efficient and inclusive response in Lebanon amid the increase of protection, insecurity and safety risks to the vulnerable populations exacerbated by the lack of financial capacity of vulnerable people to find other alternatives.

The displacement orders have expanded geographically and in scope, triggering large-scale population movements across multiple governorates. Since the start of the escalation, the Israeli displacement orders are now estimated to cover roughly 1,470 square kilometres – or around 14 per cent of Lebanon’s territory – including large parts of southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and areas of the Bekaa Valley, forcing many families to flee with little notice and limited options for safe relocation. In several villages in the south, including Shabriha in the Tyre district, civil defence teams or municipalities reportedly received instructions to forcibly evacuate the remaining residents. In a new development, Israeli forces reportedly issued an individual displacement order via WhatsApp, instructing a resident in Beirut to evacuate both his apartment and company offices—marking the first such instance reported during the current escalation. The use of such methods has heightened anxiety among residents and further contributed to uncertainty and fear among civilian populations. According to OHCHR, "the breadth of such displacement orders makes them very difficult for the population to comply with and therefore brings into question their effectiveness, a requirement under international humanitarian law, and risks amounting to prohibited forced displacement."

On 14 March, Israeli forces issued two warnings that have raised serious humanitarian concerns. The first indicated that ambulances and medical facilities in Lebanon could be targeted if used by Hezbollah, in a context where 28 incidents affecting healthcare facilities have already been reported over the past two weeks. The second warning suggested that trucks travelling along coastal areas in southern Lebanon could also be targeted if suspected of carrying military assets. Such warnings increase the perceived risks associated with civilian transport and may further complicate humanitarian logistics, potentially affecting the delivery of essential assistance to affected populations.

Access to several conflict-affected areas remains critical. Roads in Dibbin and Khardali, which were recently damaged, were temporarily repaired over the weekend by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL, enabling the restoration of access to otherwise hard-to-reach communities. Maintaining safe humanitarian access remains critical to ensure that assistance can reach populations in need.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP) market functionality assessment, markets remain broadly functional at the national level; however, severe localized disruptions are emerging in areas directly affected by hostilities. Markets south of the Litani River appear to have largely ceased operations, with many monitored shops closed or evacuated and supply deliveries significantly reduced. In contrast, markets in areas hosting displaced populations remain operational but are experiencing sharp increases in demand and early signs of price inflation, particularly in Beirut and parts of Mount Lebanon. At the national level, supply chains continue to function, and strategic food stocks remain available, though delivery disruptions and rationing by distributors are beginning to emerge in conflict-affected areas. Food prices are expected to rise in the coming weeks, driven primarily by higher fuel and logistics costs, increased demand linked to displacement, and broader regional energy market shocks rather than immediate national shortages.

Authorities and humanitarian actors have introduced emergency measures to sustain supply chains and mitigate market disruptions. These measures include 24-hour operations at the Port of Beirut to accelerate cargo clearance and facilitate the movement of essential goods. However, Lebanon’s heavy reliance on imports for food, fuel, and other critical commodities leaves the country highly vulnerable to regional energy volatility and potential disruptions to maritime shipping routes, which could further affect domestic market stability if the regional situation deteriorates.