Despite the ceasefire announced on 17 April, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon remained highly unstable during the reporting period. Hostilities continued across southern Lebanon, accompanied by renewed displacement orders affecting multiple localities, further undermining civilian protection and prospects for safe returns.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains precarious despite the announcement of the ceasefire on 17 April 2026, with ongoing hostilities driving displacement and casualties, particularly in the South.
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire as of 17 April, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon remained highly unstable during the reporting period, with continued insecurity forcing further population displacements, humanitarian access challenges, and undermining prospects for safe returns.
Nearly 600 people have been killed in Lebanon in four weeks of fragile ceasefire, while more than one million people remain displaced the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has said.
More than 4,500 emergency shelter and household items were airlifted from Maastricht to Beirut today through an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge, as humanitarian needs continue to surge across Lebanon.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remained fragile and volatile, with developments during the reporting period further undermining prospects for civilian protection, safe and sustained returns, and unimpeded humanitarian access.
After 45 days of hostilities, a ceasefire announced on 16 April – which was extended for an additional 3 weeks - offered brief hope for displaced families in Lebanon. Some returned, only to find destruction, lack of services, and ongoing insecurity.
Ceasefire extended amid continued violations on the ground: Following U.S.‑facilitated talks in Washington, Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the ceasefire for a further three weeks, with the stated aim of preventing escalation and creating space for continued diplomatic engagement.
A 10‑day ceasefire brokered by the United States between Lebanon and Israel came into effect at midnight on Thursday 16 April, aimed at halting hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and paving the way for a lasting peace agreement.
As of the eve of the ten-day ceasefire announcement, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continued to deteriorate, with prolonged displacement of people who have fled, leaving everything they own and jobs behind**, and are facing difficulties accessing safe and dignified shelter, and basic services**.
Continued escalation and geographic spread of hostilities Conflict continues to intensify across Lebanon, with airstrikes, artillery fire, and ground operations reported in the South, Nabatiyeh, Tyre District, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, while evacuation warnings and strikes have expanded to new areas, including in West Bekaa.
The hostilities which have been ongoing for close to one-month have already claimed the lives of 1,238 people in Lebanon, including most recently rescue workers, journalists and a UN peacekeeper.
Over the past week, hostilities intensified with continued strikes on civilian infrastructure, including the destruction of key bridges and transport roads in southern Lebanon, significantly restricting movement and humanitarian access.
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.
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.
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.
