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.
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.
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.
Amid escalating regional tensions, humanitarian cargo continues to enter the Gaza Strip through a single operational crossing (Kerem Shalom), constraining the flow of goods and reducing both humanitarian and commercial supply volumes.
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.
Conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, unfolding a multi-layered public health emergency. Increasing numbers of deaths and injuries are being reported, with over 1,440 deaths and more than 18,700 injuries reported in Iran, and more than 886 deaths and 2105 injuries in Lebanon.
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.
More than ten days into the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East, health systems across the Region are coming under strain as injuries and displacement rise, attacks on health care continue, and public health risks increase.
As of 9 March 2026, the escalation of hostilities in neighbouring Lebanon has led to significant cross-border movements into the Syrian Arab Republic (hereafter referred to as Syria), following a significant escalation in hostilities that began on 28 February 2026 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
It has been just over a week since the new escalation in conflict started on 2 March, when Israeli evacuation warnings to residents of more than 53 villages and densely populated areas in Lebanon and intensified airstrikes forced families across Lebanon to flee within minutes. Lives have been upended on a massive scale.
The recent escalation of hostilities across Asia and the Middle East has led to a marked deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The affected areas already host 24.6 million forcibly displaced people, many of whom already face significant protection risks and humanitarian needs, alongside host communities.
