Jurist UNHCR warns Lebanon at risk of humanitarian catastrophe due to Israeli bombardment

[Dadparvar]

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) released a warning on Friday that Israeli strikes and widespread evacuation orders are causing a deepening humanitarian crisis. Since March 2nd, more than 1 million people, one in five residents, have been forced to flee their homes.

Even in flight, residents are not safe. Israeli strikes have targeted the central Beirut neighborhoods of Zolak Blat and Bashoura, areas where displaced people have been seeking refuge. Bridges in the south have been targeted and destroyed, isolating 150,000 people and limiting their access to humanitarian relief.

UNHCR representative, Karolina Lindholm Billing, highlighted that violence and exploitation of the situation can be mitigated by supporting emergency responses outlined in the Lebanon Flash Appeal. Summarizing UNHCR activities, Billing stated:

UNHCR continues to lead the protection and shelter sectors together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and NGO partners, and has delivered over 198,000 essential relief items, while working to improve privacy and dignity within shelters. So far, UNHCR and partners have supported more than 27,000 people with protection services, including psychosocial support, recreational activities, counselling and targeted assistance for the most vulnerable. With adequate funding for our initial appeal of more than $60 million, we can scale up these programmes within the inter-agency response.

The briefing note by the UNHCR comes following statements from other UN experts and bodies warning that Israeli actions in Lebanon may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. On March 14th, UN exerts including Francesca Albanese, issued a press release claiming that Israeli bombardment and evacuation notices may amount to the crime against humanity of forced displacement. The UN Human Rights Office released a statement on Tuesday, March 17th, identifying Israeli strikes on homes and civilian infrastructure as possibly constituting war crimes. Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan highlighted that parties in war must distinguish between civilian and military targets.di

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