UN Expresses Concern as Refugee Numbers Continue to Rise, Lebanon Shelters 80% Full

As Israel's concentrated attacks intensify, the number of refugees in Lebanon has surged, revealing the limits of shelter capacity.

A refugee lying and sleeping in a parking space in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the 10th (local time), since Israel began intensively attacking Hezbollah bases located in Lebanon on the 23rd of last month, the number of Lebanese residents who abandoned their homes and sought refuge in shelters has sharply increased.

OCHA reported that there are 978 shelters, including public schools designated as refugee protection spaces in Lebanon, and by the 7th, two weeks after the concentrated airstrikes, about 187,000 refugees had crowded into these shelters.

They expressed concern, stating, "775 shelters, accounting for 80% of the total, are already full, making it difficult to accommodate more people, but the number of refugees is increasing day by day."

UN agencies are worried that Lebanon's humanitarian crisis will accelerate. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) pointed out, "With evacuation orders already issued for areas covering a quarter of Lebanese territory, the surge in refugees cannot be stopped unless the conflict ceases."

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated, "The conflict has severely weakened Lebanon's medical capacity," adding, "At least 98 primary healthcare centers have closed due to safety concerns, and three hospitals in southern Lebanon and other areas have completely suspended operations."

WHO emphasized, "Even during wartime, parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure that medical facilities are not damaged and that medical services are not interrupted."