In a stark warning, United Nations humanitarian officials have urged immediate measures to prevent the escalating situation in Lebanon from deteriorating into a humanitarian crisis similar to that of Gaza. Matthew Hollingworth, the Lebanon country director for the World Food Programme (WFP), emphasized the dire need for intervention during a press briefing in Geneva, sharing his concerns after having previously coordinated WFP operations in Gaza.
Hollingworth stated, “It is on my mind constantly that we could fall into a similar spiral of doom. We must do everything possible to prevent this.” The conflict in Gaza, which escalated following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, has resulted in over 41,900 fatalities, primarily among civilians, according to reports from the region.
The violence has spilled over into Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes and ground battles with Hezbollah have caused over 1,100 deaths and displaced more than a million people in just two weeks. Hollingworth highlighted the deep fears among the Lebanese population, many of whom are fleeing due to the devastating impacts witnessed in Gaza over the past year.
UNICEF spokesman James Elder remarked on the troubling similarities between the two regions, noting that displacement and the impact on children mirror the situation in Gaza. Jeremy Laurence from the UN human rights office echoed these sentiments, stressing that the devastation in Lebanon is on par with that experienced in Gaza, urging that such a tragedy must not be repeated.
The humanitarian situation is critical, with the WFP currently reaching about 150,000 individuals daily, yet needing to expand this outreach to nearly a million people. Hollingworth pointed out alarming agricultural losses, with 1,900 hectares of farmland scorched in recent weeks and 12,000 hectares abandoned.
Moreover, the WFP faces a significant funding shortfall of $115 million to address the urgent needs of the population in the coming months. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 16 attacks on healthcare facilities in Lebanon since mid-September, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries among healthcare workers, and rendering five hospitals non-functional.
With nearly 100 primary healthcare facilities closed, the risk of disease outbreaks looms large in a country already facing immense challenges. Urgent action is imperative to address the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and prevent further escalation of violence and suffering.
