Beirut, Lebanon – In a grim assessment of the situation on the ground, the United Nations confirmed that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is deteriorating rapidly and dangerously, despite the official ceasefire agreement.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated in a press release on Monday that the violence has not abated. More than 100 airstrikes were recorded in the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of 87 people over the weekend alone.
A bloody toll and direct targeting of paramedics
According to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, cited by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the death toll since the escalation of fighting on March 2nd has risen to 2,846, with 8,693 wounded.
The attacks have not been limited to military targets. Medical personnel have also been targeted, with the Ministry of Health reporting the deaths of two paramedics and injuries to others in airstrikes that targeted the towns of Qalawiya and Tibnin in southern Lebanon while they were carrying out their humanitarian duties.
For its part, the World Health Organization documented an “unprecedented” escalation against the health sector, recording 158 attacks on healthcare facilities since the start of the conflict. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of 108 medical personnel and injuries to 249 others, a blatant violation of international laws protecting vital infrastructure.
The field is ablaze: drones versus ground expansion
On the other side of the border, military operations show no signs of abating.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the army is preparing to expand its ground operations deeper into Lebanon, pending a final decision from the political leadership. This move comes amid what the military command described as a “significant threat.” Hezbollah’s suicide drones pose a major danger and have caused almost daily casualties among the invading forces.
