What's happened
As Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon continues, over 100,000 people have fled into Syria, with many Lebanese and Syrian refugees returning home. The conflict has exacerbated Lebanon's existing humanitarian crisis, leading to unprecedented displacement and suffering among civilians.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi reported that the number of people crossing into Syria has reached 100,000, with the outflow continuing. He emphasized the dire conditions faced by those fleeing, stating, 'People fleeing the bombing arrive in Syria exhausted, traumatized and in desperate need of help.' Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee's Juan Gabriel Wells noted the overwhelming need for basic necessities, indicating that many refugees are experiencing their third or fourth displacement due to conflict. This highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, as Lebanon struggles to accommodate both its citizens and the large population of Syrian refugees already present.
How we got here
The current escalation began on September 23, 2024, when Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon, shifting focus from Gaza. This has resulted in significant civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, already struggling with economic instability and food insecurity.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Filippo Grandi is a diplomat and United Nations official of Italy, current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
He previously served as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East an