Lebanon: Flash Update #23 - Escalation of hostilities in south Lebanon, as of 24 July 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• 98,750 individuals (51% females) have been displaced from South Lebanon due to the ongoing hostilities as of 23 July (source: DTM).
• 1,953 casualties have been reported, including 481 deaths. Among these, at least 107 civilian deaths have been confirmed (source: MoPH, OHCHR).
• On 15 July, two women were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh.
• On 16 July, five civilians of Syrian nationality, including three Syrian refugee children were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in South Lebanon. UNICEF in Lebanon called the attack horrific and emphasized that children must be protected under international humanitarian law.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Lebanon continues to be severely impacted by ongoing hostilities, with daily exchanges of fire across the southern border. The most intense bombardment is concentrated within 12 km of the Blue Line, while targeted Israeli airstrikes reach deep into the country, extending up to 100 km from the border.

Severe damage to water, electricity, and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as roads in southern Lebanon have been recorded, and maintenance and repair workers have been killed and injured as they attempted to maintain services for the area’s remaining residents, alongside medics and first responders. There has also been a noticeable increase in Israeli warplanes breaking the sound barrier over various Lebanese regions, resulting in widespread panic and the shattering of glass in many residential buildings.

To date, at least 107 civilians have been killed since hostilities escalated in October 2023. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the total number of casualties since October 8, 2023, stands at 1,953, including 481 fatalities.

• On 15 July, two women were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh.
• On 16 July, two civilians of Syrian nationality were killed in an Israeli drone airstrike in Khardali, Nabatieh.
• On 16 July, three Syrian refugee children were killed in an Israeli drone strike in Um Tout village, Tyre. UNICEF in Lebanon called the attack horrific and emphasized that children must be protected under international humanitarian law.

Additionally, on 16 July, the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications announced on X that it had filed a formal complaint against Israel regarding purported GPS jamming that endangers civil aviation in the country. The complaint was reportedly directed to the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for consideration, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As of 9 July, 98,750 people have been internally displaced and are seeking refuge across Lebanon, with 97 per cent originating from Bint Jbeil, Marjaayoun, and Tyre districts.

• Some 82 per cent of the IDPs are currently living with host families, while 15 per cent are renting houses. Another two per cent have relocated to secondary residences. Around one per cent are housed in 16 collective shelters.
• Of the 82 percent in host settings, 25,276 are co-living with non-internally displaced families, while 55,790 reside separately. Notably, according to IOM, 20 percent of the 81,006 individuals in host settings live in overcrowded conditions.
• 1,341 displaced people are hosted in 16 collective shelters, with five located in Tyre, six in Hasbaya, four in Nabatieh, one in Saida.
• 33 percent of IDPs are children (< 18 years), while 34 percent are female adults and 33 percent are male adults.

Since February 2024, and up to 24 July, 42 humanitarian missions have been conducted to towns and villages along the frontline. According to the Disaster Risk Reduction unit, at least 149,000 civilians remain within 10 km of the Blue Line.