United Nations, Nov 22 (IANS) — The United Nations has reported that escalating conflict in Lebanon has displaced over 880, 000 people, with more than 500, 000 fleeing to Syria. Those remaining in Lebanon are facing worsening food security, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The International Organisation for Migration stated that among the displaced are over 20, 000 migrants who have had to abandon both their homes and workplaces. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) noted that more than half of those who fled to Syria are children, who are receiving psychosocial support to address trauma from displacement.
OCHA emphasized the importance of protecting civilians regardless of their choice to stay or flee. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that Lebanon’s food insecurity, exacerbated by disrupted supply chains, now affects over 1.2 million people.
The WFP has been distributing aid through convoys, reaching over 65, 000 people in South Lebanon and Baalbek-Hermel governorates since September, as food prices remain high and the situation continues to deteriorate.