Attachments
Since 23 September 2024, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified and sharply escalated. Over the last two months, Israeli bombardments inside Lebanon and incursions into southern Lebanon have resulted in widespread displacement, civilian casualties, and infrastructure damage which include the destruction of sometimes entire villages, farmland and livestock and the disruption of essential services, such as healthcare facilities, water systems, and schools across Lebanon.
The frequency and impact of Israeli airstrikes have continued to expand beyond southern Lebanon, forcing hundreds of thousands of Lebanese and refugees, mostly Syrians, to flee their homes. At the end of October, airstrikes intensified in Baalbek, hours after Israel issued evacuation orders for the area, resulting in significant population movements. On 6 November, airstrikes also intensified in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including a strike near the airport, followed by heavy bombardments again in the days thereafter. To date, hostilities have resulted in some 3,516 deaths and 14,929 injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, and more than 886,000 people have been internally displaced, among them over 80,000 Syrian refugees. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has now reached levels that exceed the those experienced during the 2006 war.
In Lebanon, Syrian refugees face particular challenges accessing collective shelters. UNHCR also identified 19 new administrative measures impacting Syrians, involving movement restrictions, checkpoint arrests, data collection, taxes/fees, and limitations on rental agreements/accommodation.
A number of official and unofficial border crossing points with Syria, used by people fleeing Lebanon, have been hit by Israeli airstrikes. Notably, on 25 October and 2 November Joussieh border crossing (Homs) was hit by airstrikes during the night, rendering the road inaccessible to vehicles and causing damage to UNHCR’s border post facility. Movement of people crossing through Joussieh was subsequently limited, with numbers crossing decreasing to less than 100 families per day and no movements observed after dark.