Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator's statement at Geneva Press Briefing on Recent Escalations in Lebanon

The recent escalations in Lebanon are nothing short of catastrophic. 

For nearly a year, people—especially in South Lebanon—have lived in fear, worrying about what the future holds. Many have expressed concerns about experiencing a situation similar to Gaza, and for the past year, we have consistently urged all parties to deescalate to prevent this outcome. Unfortunately, in just a few days, hundreds of thousands feel they are now facing a comparable fate.

The surge in violence has extended to previously unaffected areas, leading to widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure across the country. In less than a week, at least 700 lives have been lost, thousands have been injured, and nearly 120,000 people have been displaced within mere hours, with these numbers continuing to rise as we speak. 

This crisis has also impacted the UN, with the tragic loss of two UNHCR colleagues and one of their sons. The situation is catastrophic.

We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation, and many express their fear that this is just the beginning.

The UN and its partners are closely coordinating with the Lebanese government to support the response efforts. This includes aligning aid distribution, conducting joint assessments, and identifying urgent needs for affected populations. Lebanon's health system is already overwhelmed.

 The events of last week, including the explosions of communication devices, have nearly depleted health supplies. With the recent escalations and hospitals reaching capacity, the system is struggling with limited resources to meet the growing demands.

However, together with our partners, we are delivering food, mattresses, hygiene kits, and emergency medical supplies to those affected by displacement.

Nearly 500 shelters are accommodating around 80,000 displaced individuals, including 300 schools that have been repurposed, impacting the education of over 100,000 students.

Critical funding gaps persist in various areas, including shelter repair, site management, food stocks, fuel, and coordination. We are now assessing the amount of funding required to address the increasing number of displaced people and the rising humanitarian needs.

We have been working diligently to ensure safe access for those seeking humanitarian assistance and for our teams delivering aid. Expanding efforts to secure unimpeded access for humanitarian actors remains essential, particularly for those still in affected areas and collective shelters.

We will continue to emphasize this tirelessly; civilians must be protected. Civilian infrastructure should not be targeted. The safety and security of all UN personnel and assets must be guaranteed. International law must be upheld.

Looking ahead, the path forward is fraught with uncertainty. The priority now must be to secure an immediate ceasefire to halt further civilian suffering and destruction. The humanitarian community urges all countries to leverage their influence to facilitate an immediate de-escalation. 

However, even if hostilities cease, the aftermath of the violence will require a massive, coordinated humanitarian response to address the widespread displacement, rebuild critical infrastructure, and restore essential services. The health, education, and economic systems—already stretched to their limits—will need sustained support to recover. Beyond immediate relief, Parties must lay down their arms, prioritize diplomacy, and recommit to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).

The region cannot endure further bloodshed.

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