Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has called for immediate international support to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, where two weeks of intense Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds and displaced over a million people.
In a press release issued by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Sunday, Grandi described the dire situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe” and urged the global community to step in.
“I’ve witnessed today the tragic toll this war is taking on entire communities,” Grandi said, following a visit to affected areas. “International humanitarian law must be respected and cannot be ignored. Families have been left homeless, stranded in the open air with traumatized children unable to understand what’s happening.”
Lebanon has been reeling from widespread Israeli airstrikes, which have targeted towns, villages, and key infrastructure along the border, causing extensive destruction. The UNHCR press release emphasized that government-run shelters are overwhelmed by the sheer number of internally displaced people, with no end in sight to the violence.
Grandi stressed that the international community must significantly increase financial aid to help humanitarian organizations respond adequately to the growing needs of displaced families. The UN refugee chief criticized the ongoing conflict and called for an end to the violence, saying, “People should not pay the price for the abysmal failure to find political solutions and end this vicious cycle of violence.”
The ongoing Israeli aggression has devastated Lebanon’s southern border regions, causing thousands of civilian casualties and forcing over a million residents to flee their homes. With essential infrastructure damaged, including roads and hospitals, the country’s ability to cope with the influx of displaced individuals has been severely compromised.
As the conflict drags on, Grandi’s plea underscores the urgent need for the global community to take action and provide critical aid to Lebanon. The UNHCR is working to assist the displaced population, but resources are quickly depleting, leaving countless families vulnerable to further hardship.
The situation in Lebanon remains fluid, with concerns mounting that the humanitarian crisis could worsen if international assistance does not arrive soon. Grandi’s call for global intervention comes at a time when Lebanon is struggling to provide even the most basic necessities for its displaced population amidst the continued aggression.
