Lebanon: Flash Update #48 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 28 November 2024
This report is produced by OCHA Lebanon in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Inter Sector Coordination Group. It covers the period from 26-28 November 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
• 578,641 internally displaced persons (IDPs) reported in movement toward their places of origin since the ceasefire; a total of 899,725 people were reported displaced as of 25 November (IOM).
• Many displaced unable to return to communities due to damage and destruction, as well as restrictions imposed by the Israeli Army.
• Nearly 80 fatalities and over 265 injuries reported on 26 November alone – the day before the ceasefire came into effect.
• 3,961 people killed, including at least 266 children, and 16,520 injured since 8 October 2023 (MoPH).
• 158 attacks on healthcare facilities, with 241 health workers killed and 292 injured while on duty since 8 October 2023 (WHO).
SITUATION OVERVIEW
In the early hours of 27 November, a ceasefire came into effect at 04:00 local time (UTC+3). The ceasefire was preceded by devastating Israeli airstrikes across the country on 26 November, which resulted in nearly 80 fatalities and over 265 injuries according to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) preliminary estimates. Beirut was heavily impacted, with strikes on residential areas in the central district and southern suburbs, triggering widespread panic. Similar devastation unfolded in the Bekaa Valley. Saida and Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp (South Governorate) were targeted for the first time since October this year. Israeli strikes also severed the Aridah crossing between northern Lebanon and Syria further isolating the country. The ceasefire agreement includes a 60-day timeline for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) troops along the border. After more than two months of intense conflict, on top of 11 months of continually escalating hostilities, the announcement of the ceasefire brought hope to civilians throughout the country, who have borne the brunt of the conflict. The UN Secretary-General welcomed the ceasefire, urging all parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all of the commitments made under this agreement. The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, noted that agreement marks the starting point of a critical process, anchored in the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). The Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, recalling the unimaginable hardships civilians have faced throughout this conflict, welcomed the much-needed respite and hope the ceasefire brings. Since 27 November, many displaced families have left collective shelters or other locations where they had sought refuge, beginning to return to their communities – often finding a state of severe destruction, including damaged or destroyed homes and limited access to basic services. Many families cannot yet return to their communities because their homes have been severely damaged or destroyed, as well as due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli Army. The preliminary estimation of people who are on the move since the ceasefire, undertaken by the national Disaster Risk Management (DRM) unit and via the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), records at least 578,641 people.
