Escalating hostilities in the region in late February triggered an increase in cross-border movements from Lebanon into Syria. Between 2 and 27 March, over 202,477 individuals crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, according to Syrian authorities.
In just three weeks, more than 370,000 children have been forced out of their homes in Lebanon, an average of at least 19,000 girls and boys displaced every single day.
Since 2 March, an estimated 620,000 women and girls have been forced to flee their homes.This represents nearly one quarter of all women and girls in Lebanon, and more than half of those displaced – including Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and migrant communities.
Heavy rains that began on 14 March triggered widespread flooding across northern Syria, initially affecting Idleb and Aleppo governorates before extending eastwards into Ar-Raqqa, Al-Hasakeh and Deir-ez-Zor.
Nearly a month into a rapidly escalating conflict, Lebanon is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis. Since 2 March, following intense Israeli strikes and widespread evacuation orders, more than 1 million people – one in five residents – have been forced to flee their homes.
Following the full-scale invasion of Lebanon launched on 2 March 2026, Israeli airstrikes have continued at high intensity in Beirut’s southern suburbs and across villages in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The cost of living continues to outpace income growth; despite policy measures seeking to enhance purchasing power, current wage levels meet only around one‑third of basic household needs.
More than 130,000 people have crossed into the Syrian Arab Republic and over 1 million people have been displaced inside Lebanon since early March, as the war in the Middle East drives growing cross-border movements and displacement across the region.
Since the beginning of March 2026, the escalation of hostilities across Lebanon has driven a rapid and severe deterioration in the humanitarian situation. Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and expanded ground operations continue to intensify in scale, frequency, and geographic scope, affecting areas that had previously remained less exposed.
Between 02 and 16 March 2026, a total of 327,280 movements were recorded across 10 (out of 16) official border crossing points (BCPs) and unofficial crossing areas.
As of 17 March, more than 125,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria, according to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix in Syria. Around half are children.
Triggered by escalating hostilities across the country, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate, resulting in mass displacement and casualties, with women accounting for 20 per cent of casualties.
For the past two weeks, Lebanon faced a rapidly worsening and unpredictable security environment, in a context of wider regional escalation. Intensified aerial attacks and evacuation orders across multiple areas have driven further displacement and expanded humanitarian needs and exposed communities to sustained insecurity.
As of 12 March, UNHCR estimates that 1,524,736 individuals have returned to Syria from other countries since the political transition in Syria on 8 December 2024. The main governorate of return remains Damascus followed by Idleb, Aleppo, Rural Damascus and Homs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Lebanon in a solidarity mission, highlighting the severity of the crisis and calling for protection of civilians and increased international support. Together with the Government of Lebanon, he launched 2026 Flash Appeal.
Geographical expansion and intensification of hostilities across Lebanon continue to deteriorate the humanitarian situation exposing growing number of people to persistent insecurity.
