Since the onset of cross-border attacks on October 8, 2023, tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have significantly intensified with nearly 100,000 internally displaced people in Lebanon because of the conflict.
Hostilities continue to be reported in parts of Syria, while civil departments and public service institutions have resumed operations in most governorates.
This report is produced by OCHA Lebanon in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Inter Sector Coordination Group. It covers the period from 6 – 12 December 2024.
The Humanitarian Country Team in Lebanon, led by the Humanitarian Coordinator and supplementing national efforts, continues to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people affected by the increase in hostilities in Lebanon.
Multiple overlapping population movements in Syria and neighbouring countries, including Lebanon, have occurred following changes to the Syrian government on 7 December 2024 and a series of attacks across Syria.
On 26 November, another UNFPA-supported safe space was destroyed in Sour, South Lebanon. The facility provided services to hundreds of women and girls, including survivors of GBV. Two UNFPA-supported primary health care centres (PHCCs) and ve WGSSs are no longer operational across the country.
The Humanitarian Country Team in Lebanon, led by the Humanitarian Coordinator and supplementing national efforts, continues to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people affected by the increase in hostilities in Lebanon.
After over two months of intense conflict and nearly a year of escalating hostilities, a ceasefire came into effect on 27 November at 04:00 local time, marking a pivotal moment for Lebanon.
As winter looms in Lebanon, UNIFIL’s Italian peacekeepers have donated a number of items including blankets, food, medicines and hygiene kits to hospitals and authorities in south Lebanon for the benefit of those affected by the recent violence across the Blue Line.
Although a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel was announced on 26 November 2024, the situation remains fragile. The conflict has been the deadliest period Lebanon has experienced since 2006, with 3,961 persons reported killed, including 248 children and 736 women, as well as 16,520 injured, including 1,436 children and 2,827 women.
In response to these needs, DCA converted all activities to support for the many civilians who found themselves sleeping in the open, in schools, or other spaces made available to them – to ensure they had food, water, mattresses, blankets, and other necessities.
In support of the Government led emergency response, the humanitarian community launched a Flash Appeal to enable partners to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance. The appeal seeks $425.7 million to assist 1 million people affected by the crisis until the end of the year.
As thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) began returning to their areas of residence, particularly in the South, Bekaa, Baalbek, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, humanitarian organizations cautioned that the situation remained highly volatile, particularly from a protection standpoint.
A ceasefire agreement took effect at 4 a.m. on 27 November, prompting nearly 580,000 internally displaced persons to begin returning home, mainly to the South, as reported in IOM’s Flash Update.
A ceasefire was implemented on November 27, but violations were reported, with ongoing airstrikes prior to the ceasefire causing significant casualties and damage, particularly in Beirut.
In the early hours of 27 November, a ceasefire came into effect at 04:00 local time (UTC+3). The ceasefire was preceded by devastating Israeli airstrikes across the country on 26 November, which resulted in nearly 80 fatalities and over 265 injuries according to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) preliminary estimates.
