A man in front of the ruins of his house destroyed by the Israeli strike on the village of Kfour (Nabatieh), on Aug. 17, 2024. (Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
Ten months after the start of the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon on Oct. 8, the U.N. continues to closely monitor the displacement of the population fleeing the conflict, whose number now stands at 110,099 people, according to a report published on Aug. 13 by the International Organization for Migration, affiliated with the U.N., and which L'Orient-Le Jour was able to consult.
According to the report, these displaced persons sought refuge in 505 villages or towns throughout Lebanon. The IOM said in the same report that the largest number of displaced persons (75,539) left the district of Bint Jbeil, while the Sour district received the largest proportion: 26 percent, or 28,486 individuals. The document also stated that the largest number of new arrivals between Aug. 6 and 13 was recorded in the district of Jbeil (Mount Lebanon), which received 1,052 displaced persons. On the other hand, the Koura district (North Lebanon) received only 16 people during the same period.
Since Aug. 13, 115 people have returned to the Bint Jbeil region, after having deserted it for Nabatieh. It should be noted on this plan that the U.N. records returns when the individuals concerned return to their native village and stay there for more than a week.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published its own report on its website on Aug. 15, according to which since the start of hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, 110,000 people, 35 percent of whom are children, have been displaced, while nearly 150,000 others are still in their villages along the Blue Line (established by the U.N. and separating Lebanon from Israel).
Citing the World Health Organization, the U.N. office says that 16 attacks have already targeted healthcare centers, while 21 rescuers have lost their lives since the start of this war.
The WHO stated, in a report dated Aug. 14, 2024, that it expects an increase in the percentage of individuals suffering from food insecurity. It should go from 19 percent (figure recorded last March) to 23 percent in September, knowing that this calculation concerns the Lebanese but also Syrian migrants and refugees, as well as Palestinians on Lebanese territory.
SOS financing
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the international organization and its partners "continue to support" the Lebanese government in its response to the ongoing conflict. "However, additional funding should be urgently secured," the report said, arguing that $110 million should be made available to meet the needs of people affected by the war by the end of 2024.
In view of this situation, the office urged "all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law which stipulates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected" throughout the conflict.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.