UNHCR: As crisis deepens in Lebanon, more flee to Syria and beyond to escape bombs

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Rula Amin – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

GENEVA – Intensifying airstrikes have forced yet more people from their homes in Lebanon in search of safety.

To date, most displacement has been internal – with Government estimates citing 1 million people having fled inside Lebanon. Over 185,000 people – mainly Syrians and Lebanese – have fled to Syria, according to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Israeli strikes overnight targeting the road in the no-man's land at the key Masnaa border crossing have halted traffic, effectively closing this route for vehicles. Some of those determined to flee crossed on foot.

With more displaced every day, the 892 government-established makeshift shelters in Lebanon have almost reached full capacity. On the streets of Beirut, even at landmarks like the Corniche, hundreds of stranded men, women and children are sleeping in the open. UNHCR is working with humanitarian partners and Lebanese authorities to urgently find safe shelter for those without any.

UNHCR’s response continues to focus on all affected communities, including Lebanese and refugees. So far, UNHCR has distributed more than 223,000 relief items and more than 73,000 individuals have received multi-purpose cash assistance. UNHCR continues to repair or support collective shelters and is providing support to 42 hospitals across the country.

As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, UNHCR is reinforcing supplies of core relief items to meet increasing needs and prepare for further escalation. However, the volatile security situation and ongoing Israeli airstrikes are delaying relief supplies, such as an airlift carrying medical trauma kits that enable hospitals to perform life-saving surgery. A shipment from Amman with over 20,000 thermal blankets was also delayed.

The influx of people fleeing to Syria continues. The Syrian authorities have kept the border open for people to enter from Lebanon. UNHCR is at the four main Syrian official border crossing points alongside the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, other UN partners and NGOs to support those who cross. Masnaa / Jdaidet Yabous remains the primary crossing point. Arrivals are mainly Syrians and Lebanese, although Palestinian refugees, Iraqis (1,450) and others are also crossing. UNHCR supports new arrivals with water, food items, blankets and legal assistance on issues such as documentation. Our protection teams are also at these crossings to support.

Some 60 percent of new arrivals are children and adolescents. Some of the children have arrived on their own, without family members.

As they flee the bombings, families arrive with profound emotional fatigue, some requiring urgent medical care. The majority of new arrivals head to their towns and villages of origin to join relatives. Some need accommodation. Hosting centers in Rural Damascus, Tartous, Latakia, Homs and Hama are now accommodating both Syrians and Lebanese who have fled.

UNHCR is supporting these centers with core relief items and repairs to make them more dignified to receive the displaced.

UNHCR has distributed 180,000 food items and 120,000 relief items to new arrivals in Syria. 

UNHCR and SARC are also continuing to support authorities in transporting thousands of the most vulnerable from the borders to their final destinations.

But the suffering of those who cross does not end at the border. After 13 years of crisis, many are going back to destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure and crippled basic services. They have arrived with no resources for their basic needs. Inside Syria, there are still more than 7.2 million people displaced internally and the country is going through a deep economic crisis.

UNHCR is expanding its response through existing humanitarian programs centered around more than 110 community centers to support arrivals alongside other vulnerable populations in the country. But more resources are needed.

With the onset of winter, UNHCR is concerned that conditions for those affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon will only worsen. UNHCR has already started dispatching essential winter assistance for recently arrived families.

Some of the displaced are now fleeing Lebanon to Iraq. According to the Ministry of Interior, over 5,000 people have arrived since September 24, having fled onwards from Syria through the Al-Qaim crossing or arriving by plane to Baghdad or Najaf. 

Iraq is providing visa free entry for Lebanese nationals and even those without passports or ID cards are being granted entry. Lebanese arrivals are included in national services such as education and health.

UNHCR’s humanitarian responses are severely under-funded both in Lebanon and in Syria. The inter-agency flash appeal for Lebanon was launched on October 1 in Beirut. The appeal aims to mobilize $425.7 million to deliver life-saving assistance to over 1 million people. UNHCR’s portion of this appeal is estimated at $111 million over three months. In Syria our $460 million appeal is 27 percent funded.

Originally reposted from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency