100,000 Displaced in Lebanon After Israeli Evacuation Warnings: Reuters
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About 100,000 people have fled to shelters in Lebanon after large-scale evacuation warnings issued by Israel Defense Forces, according to Reuters reporting by Tom Perry.
The warnings came as fighting intensified between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, triggering widespread panic and displacement across several regions.
Israeli authorities on Thursday ordered residents to leave Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas known to be controlled by Hezbollah, as well as parts of the Bekaa Valley. These warnings followed earlier evacuation orders issued across parts of southern Lebanon.
Imran Riza, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the country, told Reuters that the scale of the warnings and displacement was “unprecedented”.
“As of this morning, about 100,000 people are in around 477 collective shelters,” Riza said, adding that only 57 shelters still have limited space remaining.
The sudden evacuation orders have caused traffic gridlock and confusion as many residents rushed to safer areas without clear destinations.
Riza noted that during the 2024 Israel–Hezbollah war, more than one million people were displaced in Lebanon, with the majority staying outside organised shelters.
Our Final Thoughts
The rapidly growing displacement crisis highlights the severe humanitarian consequences of the escalating Israel–Hezbollah conflict. With shelters nearing capacity, aid agencies warn the number of displaced people could rise sharply in the coming days.