The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, is gravely alarmed by reports of a strike that hit displaced people in Beirut, leaving eight people dead and dozens injured.
Civilians and civilian objects must never be deliberately targeted; their places of shelter, and related infrastructure must never be the target of military hostilities. Many displaced people who have been forced to make the streets of Beirut their home have fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and are sleeping in tents. Tents and makeshift shelters offer no protection from the dangers of bombardment.
Well over 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon following large-scale evacuation orders. About 125,000 people are currently living in collective shelters run by the government. The remainder are staying with families, friends, and host communities, while many others remain without adequate shelter, including on the streets, placing them at serious risk of harm.
Lebanon's infrastructure and social services - already strained by the aftermath of previous conflicts and a prolonged economic crisis - are buckling under the pressure. Immediate assistance is essential to prevent a deeper humanitarian collapse.
IOM is scaling up its response and strengthening contingency planning and readiness measures in Lebanon and other countries affected by the recent regional escalation. IOM teams are supporting displaced communities with life-saving assistance, including shelter, non-food items, and mental health and psychosocial support, whilst also supporting the work of government and local authorities.
International Humanitarian Law requires parties to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians in need. This must be respected now.
