EVACUATIONS SURGE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON AMID ESCALATING VIOLENCE

BEIRUT/GENEVA, March 4 (Bernama-dpa) -- Heavy displacement is being reported across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut as residents flee intensifying Israeli airstrikes, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Israel has issued evacuation warnings for more than 53 villages, prompting thousands to leave their homes in search of safety.

As of Monday, roughly 30,000 people were registered and hosted in government-designated collective shelters, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Babar Baloch said in a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. 

Yet many more were left on the move, sleeping in their cars, on the sides of roads, or stuck in congested traffic on highways. Families carried what little they could.

The wave of displacement comes amid a sharp escalation of violence along the Lebanon-Israel border as Israel takes on the Hezbollah group, which is allied to Iran.

For many residents, this is not the first time they have faced sudden evacuations, but the scale and intensity of the current attacks have compounded existing hardships.

UNHCR expressed concern over the situation, emphasising the urgent need for civilian protection.

UNHCR teams are actively monitoring developments and coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian partners to provide immediate relief.

Core assistance – including food, water, and basic supplies – is being delivered to displaced families arriving at government shelters.

Despite these efforts, the rapidly changing security situation continues to pose challenges.

Officials in Lebanon have warned that continued airstrikes and ongoing military operations may displace even more people, highlighting the pressing need for a coordinated humanitarian response and protection measures across affected areas.

--BERNAMA-dpa