Lebanon Situation Report | September 2024

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Conflict with Israel Continues to Disrupt Life

In southern Lebanon, tens of thousands of people are currently unable to access basic services like running water. The undeclared war with Israel has significantly damaged markets and farms.

As of August 20, Lebanese authorities report 2,412 injuries and 564 deaths, including at least 133 civilians in the conflict with Israel. The hostilities have also displaced 111,940 people. The summer months have seen a marked intensification in the hostilities and growing civilian fatalities. On July 30, an Israeli airstrike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut for only the second time since October 2023. Sonic booms now echo across Beirut with increasing frequency.

Since October, at least 115 forest and farmland fires have broken out in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, with the use of incendiary white phosphorus munitions by the Israeli army-launched at least 294 times-playing a significant role. Some 1,700 hectares (4,201 acres) of farmland have been destroyed by Israeli shelling.

Rising Levels of Poverty and Hunger

Poverty in Lebanon has more than tripled over the past decade, now affecting 44% of the population. As of March 2023, around 80% of Palestine refugees in Lebanon live below the national poverty line, adjusted for inflation.

Food insecurity is expected to rise in 2024, primarily due to ongoing crises and reduced funding for humanitarian aid. Analysts forecast an increase in acute food insecurity for the present period to 23% of the population, or 1.26 million people. In 2024, around 3.7 million people in Lebanon need food assistance, including Lebanese affected by the crisis, Syrians, Palestinians, and migrants.

The Lebanese healthcare system is confronting frequent shortages of medical supplies and medications. More than 30% of private hospital beds are closed, average monthly inpatient admissions have decreased by at least 15%, and average monthly inpatient days have fallen by 25%. Essential medicines for chronic diseases and antibiotics are increasingly difficult to obtain. The closure of hundreds of private pharmacies negatively affects healthcare's timeliness, quality, and safety. Approximately 40% of medical doctors have permanently or partially emigrated, and approximately 20% of the nursing workforce have left the country.

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