Desperation Grows as Lebanon-Syria Border Severed by Israeli Airstrikes, UN Scrambles to Assist

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 06 (Alliance News): Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis deepened as Israeli airstrikes continued to ravage the country, with a major border crossing into Syria rendered impassable by the latest attacks.

Desperate civilians, eager to flee the violence, were forced to walk through debris and a massive crater at the Masnaa crossing, as vehicles could no longer navigate the destroyed road.

“There were two strikes, and a huge crater was created in the no-man’s land between the Syrian and Lebanese sides. It’s very hard for vehicles to pass,” explained Rula Amin, Senior Communications Advisor for the UNHCR, speaking from Amman.

Despite the dangerous conditions, hundreds of thousands of people have crossed into Syria in recent days.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), between September 21 and October 3, an estimated 235,000 people fled Lebanon overland, including 82,000 Lebanese and 152,000 Syrians.

The escalating conflict has displaced around one million people since October 2023, with 400,000 displaced in the last two weeks alone due to Israeli military operations.

The situation is particularly dire for Lebanon’s 180,000 migrant workers, many of whom have been abandoned by their employers. Reports have surfaced of domestic workers from countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines being left homeless as employers flee the violence.

The Lebanese health authorities reported 37 deaths and 151 injuries from Israeli ground and air strikes in the last 24 hours. Humanitarian organizations, including the UN and WHO, have ramped up efforts, with medical supplies arriving in Beirut to address the rising number of casualties.

Despite the dire situation, many refugees face a difficult choice: remain in Lebanon under the constant threat of bombings or return to Syria, where damaged homes and limited services await them.