UN: Over 822,000 displaced in Lebanon as Israeli attacks continue

More than 822,000 people in Lebanon, including nearly 300,000 children, have been registered as displaced amid the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the UN said Friday. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that 28,000 people are sheltering in nearly 600 collective sites across the country, warning that "the actual number of displaced is much higher."

Humanitarian access needed

"We once again reiterate the need for safe and unsustained humanitarian access," Dujarric said, highlighting the challenges faced by aid organizations reaching displaced populations amid active hostilities. The UN and the Lebanese government also launched a humanitarian appeal seeking $308.3 million to provide lifesaving assistance to 1 million people affected by the ongoing crisis.

Expanding campaign

The remarks came as Israel expanded its campaign with airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon. On March 3, Israel also launched a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon after beginning a joint campaign with the US against Iran on Feb. 28. The escalation has drawn Lebanon into the broader regional conflict, with Hezbollah engaging in cross-border exchanges and Israeli forces conducting sustained aerial and ground operations.

Regional context

Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, while Hezbollah's involvement has opened a northern front that has displaced hundreds of thousands in Lebanon.