The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, announced on Monday that approximately 100,000 people have fled from Lebanon to Syria due to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
Grandi shared via the social media platform X, stating, “The number of people crossing into Syria from Lebanon to escape Israeli airstrikes has reached 100,000, consisting of both Lebanese and Syrians.” He further added, “The flow of people continues.”
UNHCR has been providing assistance at four border crossing points, in cooperation with local authorities and the Syrian Red Crescent, to aid those escaping the violence. Over the weekend, the UNHCR reported that more than 50,000 people had already fled to Syria.
UNHCR representatives noted that approximately 80% of those fleeing are Syrians returning to their homeland, while the remaining 20% are Lebanese escaping the ongoing conflict.
Since September 23, the Israeli military has intensified its bombardment of Lebanon, aiming to facilitate the return of residents in northern Israel who were displaced due to the escalating conflict with Hezbollah.
This escalation has triggered a large-scale displacement both within Lebanon and toward Syria. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) also announced an emergency operation on Sunday to provide food aid to one million people affected by the conflict in Lebanon.
Matthew Hollingworth, WFP’s Director in Lebanon, stated, “As the crisis deepens, we are preparing to assist up to one million people with cash and food aid,” urging the international community to contribute around $105 million to support these operations through the end of the year.
