Statement of UN Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza at UN Geneva Press Briefing

Good afternoon,

I am pleased to join you today to update you on the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Lebanon following the renewed escalation of hostilities that began on 2 March.

Lebanon entered this escalation already under severe strain due to years of overlapping political, economic and humanitarian crises. The country continues to grapple with the consequences of the economic and financial crisis, as well as with the consequences of the 2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which at its peak displaced more than one million people and caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services across the country.

Even before the latest escalation, more than 64,000 people remained displaced within Lebanon and many communities were still struggling to recover, with limited access to health care, water and education.

Since 2 March, the situation has deteriorated rapidly.

In the 15 days since 2 March, more than 2,235 hostilities have been recorded by the National Disaster Risk Management Unit. This illustrates the speed and scale of the escalation. 

The human toll is rising quickly.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, 886 people have been killed and more than 2,141 injured over the same period. Children account for at least 107 of those killed and 331 of the injured.

As in so many conflicts, civilians are paying the highest price.

Displacement is also increasing rapidly.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, many leaving with little more than the clothes they were wearing. As of last night, around 132,700 people were sheltered in over 622 collective shelters across the country, most of which are already at or near capacity.

Many others are staying with relatives or host communities, while some are sleeping in cars, on the streets or in informal shelters. More than 1,049,000 people have self-registered as displaced on the Government’s platform – including around at least 290,000 children –, suggesting that the real scale of displacement may be significantly higher.

Further displacement is likely.

Displacement orders continue to be issued on a near-daily basis and now cover increasingly large areas compared with earlier in the escalation. As the scope of these orders expands and shifts, more communities are being instructed to leave their homes, contributing to rising displacement across the country. The repeated movement of populations is also placing additional pressure on host communities and, in some locations, contributing to growing tensions both within and between communities. Displacement under these conditions significantly heightens protection risks, particularly for women and girls, alongside the devastating effects these conditions are having on children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The displacement orders are also taking a severe psychosocial toll, causing profound trauma and anxiety, not to mention the emotional devastation of losing relatives and friends.

Warnings and displacement orders affecting vast areas do not relieve parties of their ongoing obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians, whether they move or stay. The principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions remain fully applicable. 

At the same time, essential services are increasingly affected.

Health services are already under severe strain. According to the World Health Organization’s surveillance system on attacks on health care, 28 attacks on health workers have been recorded since the escalation began, resulting in 30 deaths and 35 injuries. At least 48 primary health care centres and five hospitals have closed due to hostilities. 

Only a few days ago, a primary healthcare center in Bourj Qalawiyah, in the Bint Jbeil/Tyre area, was struck, killing 12 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, while on duty, and injured one. This was one of the deadliest single attacks on health workers in Lebanon in years. The facility served as a lifesaving civilian centre for around 20 surrounding villages, providing essential health services and acting as the first point of access for thousands of people in these communities.

Education is also being disrupted. Public schools and the country’s only public university are being used as collective shelters for displaced families, affecting learning for thousands of students whose prospects are now uncertain.

Ongoing military operations are preventing humanitarian actors from safely reaching several frontline communities, particularly border villages in southern Lebanon.

The humanitarian response is being led by the Government of Lebanon, with humanitarian partners supporting national efforts. The Prime Minister has tasked the Minister of Social Affairs with coordinating the emergency response with the humanitarian community. The Ministry of Social Affairs, supported by the Disaster Risk Management Unit and working closely with the High Relief Council, is coordinating collective shelters and the registration of displaced people.

Despite all the challenges, and in close coordination with the Government, humanitarian partners are scaling up the response.

Since the escalation began, partners have distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals and ready-to-eat food kits, as well as blankets, mattresses, hygiene kits and drinking water to displaced families across the country. Fuel has also been provided to sustain water supply systems serving hundreds of thousands of people.

National humanitarian partners and local communities continue to play a critical role in ensuring assistance reaches those most in need, working in close coordination with the Government of Lebanon, which is effectively leading the response and coordinating efforts with humanitarian actors at the national and local levels. 

However, resources are stretched.

To respond to the urgent needs created by this escalation, the humanitarian community, together with the Government of Lebanon, launched the Lebanon Flash Appeal covering the period from March to May 2026. The appeal seeks US$308.3 million to provide life-saving assistance and protection to up to one million people affected by the hostilities.

The Flash Appeal will enable humanitarian partners to rapidly scale up life-saving assistance across key sectors, including food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter, protection, education and multipurpose cash assistance, as well as logistics and telecommunications support to sustain the response.

I’d like to thank the Member States that have signaled support following the launch of the Flash Appeal, including Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Alongside the $15 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), announced by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher last week, and the $15 million allocation being processed by the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), which we announced on 6 March, these early commitments are critical to enabling humanitarian partners to scale up life-saving assistance. Additional Member States are encouraged to contribute to ensure the response can meet rapidly growing needs. Ladies and gentlemen,

The intensification of hostilities is driving a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation across Lebanon.

Immediate de-escalation is urgently needed.

International humanitarian law must be upheld by all parties. Civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian workers and health facilities must be protected at all times.

Humanitarian organizations must be able to safely access affected communities.

The generosity of the international community will also be critical to support a sustain an effective humanitarian response.

Lebanon, its citizens, and all people living in the country urgently need life-saving assistance. 

Thank you.