The Norwegian Refugee Council warned of the deterioration of the already dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon, stressing that hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forcibly displaced from their homes in the past few days as a result of Israeli air strikes and evacuation orders that included vast areas of the country.
The Norwegian Refugee Council reported, according to Agence France-Presse, that nearly 300,000 people in Lebanon have become internally displaced following Israeli evacuation announcements and subsequent intense air strikes.
The Council expressed its doubts about the legitimacy of these mass evacuation orders, pointing out that they affected hundreds of villages in southern Lebanon, in addition to villages in the Bekaa region and the entire southern suburb of Beirut, meaning that they affected a wide area of Lebanese territory.
The Council explained that these measures raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the forced transfer of civilians.
The Norwegian Refugee Council also expressed its deep concern about the evacuation notices asking civilians to leave various areas in Lebanon, considering that these measures further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis that the population is suffering from.
The Council indicated that the number of displaced people may exceed one million people if military operations continue and the evacuation orders expand.
He added in his statement that these orders appear to be devoid of any clear military justification, nor do they provide any guarantees for safe passage or provide any support to civilians who were forced to leave their homes.
The Council stressed that these measures increase the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese families who found themselves forced to flee under harsh conditions.
The humanitarian organization stressed the importance of protecting civilians in all circumstances, including individuals who choose to remain in their homes or those who cannot move to other areas.
This warning comes in light of a major military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah several days ago, as Israeli air strikes extended to include areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the southern suburb of Beirut, leading to deaths and injuries and the destruction of a number of residential buildings.
Evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army also led to waves of mass displacement within Lebanon, as thousands of families headed to safer areas in Mount Lebanon, the north, and Beirut.
International organizations are issuing increasing warnings of the risk of aggravation of the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, given the rising numbers of displaced people and the enormous pressure on shelter centers and basic services, amid fears of the expansion of the scope of the conflict in the region.
