UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the urgent delivery of a $100 million relief package to the people of Lebanon. This initiative serves as a part of the UAE’s continuous efforts to support Lebanon through its current challenges against Israel.
According to Filippo Grandi, United Nations refugee chief, “some 100,000 Lebanese and Syrian nationals” have fled to Syria as Israel launches targeted attacks on Hezbollah leadership across Lebanon. The escalating Israeli bombardment has resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Hezbollah officials, including its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The number of people who have crossed into Syria from Lebanon fleeing Israeli airstrikes — Lebanese and Syrian nationals — has reached 100,000. The outflow continues.
UNHCR is present at four crossing points alongside local authorities and @SYRedCrescent to support new arrivals. pic.twitter.com/7dtrghsMH4
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) September 30, 2024
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that over 1,000 Lebanese have died and 6,000 have been injured in the past two weeks, although it did not specify how many were civilians. The Lebanese government states that approximately one million people—roughly one-fifth of the population—have been displaced from their homes in the last two weeks.
Israel has pledged to continue its offensive, aiming to restore security in its northern regions for residents fleeing Hezbollah rocket attacks. The increasing frequency of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen has raised concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could spiral out of control, potentially involving Iran and the US, Israel’s primary ally.
