Israel’s war on Lebanon amid a slew of compounding crises has plunged the country even deeper into turmoil. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border as strikes intensify.
The Lebanese government, already grappling with economic, banking, and political turmoil, is struggling to provide sufficient services for the displaced and injured. The economy crashed in 2019, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive explosion in Beirut’s port the following year. The Lebanese lira has lost significant value, pushing half the population into poverty.
The bombardment of southern Lebanon, a key agricultural area, has further devastated residents who have already lost their source of income. Displaced families are struggling to find shelter, with some sleeping in schools turned into shelters or on the streets.
Lebanon’s caretaker government, plagued by political bickering and corruption, has a limited impact in normal times, let alone during a crisis of this magnitude. The government has activated a national emergency plan for a joint humanitarian response with the UN, but funding is inadequate to meet the vast needs of the displaced people.
The international community continues to provide aid to Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats and attacks are exacerbating an already dire situation. The government is engaged in talks with the international community to achieve a ceasefire, but escalating violence and limited resources continue to hinder efforts to provide relief to the affected population.
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