At least 30,000 people have sought refuge in collective shelters in Lebanon since the recent escalation of hostilities involving Israel and Hezbollah, United Nations agencies said on Tuesday. The displacement follows a series of cross-border strikes that began after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel late on Sunday, which came in reaction to U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.
UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said the figure reflects a conservative count of those "hosted and registered at collective shelters." He added that "many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams." The U.N. World Food Programme noted that the number of displaced people is expected to rise and confirmed that the Lebanese government has opened 21 shelters so far.
Alongside the movement to shelters, the U.N. refugee agency has recorded an increase in the number of Syrian refugees departing Lebanon and returning to Syria. UNHCR officials said they are preparing a contingency plan to respond to any further movements across the border.
Lebanon hosts a high concentration of refugees relative to its population. According to the figures cited by U.N. agencies, about 1.5 million Syrians live in Lebanon, a country with roughly 4 million Lebanese nationals. The broader Syrian refugee crisis has seen more than 6 million people flee since conflict erupted in Syria in 2011, with most going to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
Humanitarian agencies have also raised alarms about civilian harm. UNICEF reported that Israeli air strikes have put children in residential areas at immediate risk. Since Monday, seven children have been killed and 38 injured, the U.N. children’s agency said.
"Each new escalation expands the circle of harm. Residential areas, schools and critical infrastructure are being affected," UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said.
U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations are monitoring developments and scaling preparations for further displacement and protection needs. With shelters filling and some families opting to sleep in vehicles or remain in congested roadways, aid groups have highlighted the need for greater capacity and coordinated contingency measures.
Key immediate facts include the confirmed numbers in shelters, the opening of 21 government-run shelters, reported child casualties, and preparations by UNHCR for potential further refugee movements. The situation remains fluid and humanitarian agencies emphasize that the number of people seeking protection is likely to increase.