773 Dead and 1 Million Residents Displaced Following Israeli Attacks on Lebanon

The escalation of violence in Lebanon continues to claim lives. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday, 13 March, that the death toll from Israeli attacks since 2 March has reached 773, with 1,933 others wounded.

Ministry data reveals an alarming trend affecting vulnerable populations. To date, at least 103 children have been killed and 326 others injured.

Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayed, emphasised that the crisis impact is heavily skewed demographically. She stated that children comprise nearly half of those affected, whilst women and girls account for more than half of the affected population.

The Deputy Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon with the United Nations, Imran Riza, noted that the crisis has affected approximately 1.3 million people. This figure includes up to 1 million people displaced within Lebanon and nearly 100,000 who have been forced to cross into Syria to seek safety.

In response to this emergency situation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced a global humanitarian assistance appeal during a press conference in Beirut on Friday. “The UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Friday an emergency humanitarian assistance appeal valued at USD 325 million (approximately IDR 5.49 trillion) for Lebanon,” according to an official statement, whilst urging stronger international solidarity.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated sharply since the beginning of combined US-Israel military action against Iran on 28 February. In response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at communities in northern Israel.

Israel responded by attacking various locations in southern and eastern Lebanon, which it claimed were operational bases and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah members.