International Community Rallies to Provide Aid to Lebanon Amidst Escalating Border Violence
LEBANON – In the wake of the ongoing border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which have displaced over 76,000 people in southern Lebanon, the international community is stepping up efforts to provide crucial assistance.
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday that the violence, persisting for almost three months since early October, has forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, with 80% seeking refuge with relatives. Approximately 2% have found shelter in 14 collective shelters, mainly located in the coastal city of Tyre and the Hasbaya region.
The remaining displaced individuals have sought accommodations in rented apartments or homes farther from the conflict zone, according to the IOM.
Tragically, the escalation in violence along the border has resulted in the loss of 175 lives in Lebanon, including 129 Hezbollah fighters and over 20 civilians, including three journalists. On the Israeli side, nine soldiers and five civilians have lost their lives, as reported by Israeli authorities.
Hezbollah, engaging in daily operations against Israeli forces along the border, claims to be intervening in support of Hamas in Gaza. Tensions reached a new height with the recent strike that killed Hamas’s number two, Saleh Al Aruri, in a Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut. The incident, widely attributed to Israel, has prompted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to issue a stern warning that the assassination “will not go unpunished.”
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Nasrallah further cautioned that Lebanon could face increased Israeli operations if his group does not respond to the killing of the deputy chief of Hamas on the outskirts of Beirut.
As the situation remains dire, the international community is mobilizing humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the displaced population and address the escalating tensions in the region. Efforts are underway to facilitate diplomatic dialogues aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and preventing further loss of life.
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