ANERA - American Near East Refugee Aid
09/26/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2024 06:55
LHIF Issues Urgent Call for Ceasefire in Lebanon
The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum is an informal and independent coordinating body comprised of 69 international NGOs (including Anera) who are working to address the needs of vulnerable individuals, families and communities throughout Lebanon.
Urgent Call for Ceasefire: Humanitarian Organizations in Lebanon Call for Immediate Action
The past few days saw unprecedented escalation of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon including the South, southern suburb of Beirut and the Bekaa, with attacks increasing in number and the scope expanding to additional areas across the country, such as Mount Lebanon and North Lebanon. Israeli forces stated that they conducted over 1,500 strikes between September 23-24. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and the level of damage in residential areas has caused massive civilian casualties and displacement.
The human toll is already staggering, with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reporting 558 people killed including 50 children, and 1,835 people wounded on Monday September 23rd alone. This was the deadliest attack since the beginning of the conflict, and the deadliest on Lebanon since the 2006 war, signifying a major escalation in the region.
The attacks have led to a large wave of displacement, with many civilians forced to flee with only a few belongings. Data from the Government of Lebanon reports an estimated 104,130 displaced on September 24-25. This comes on top of the 111,696 people who had already been displaced since the start of the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Further, 347 public institutions including schools, education centers, and vocational institutes have been transformed into emergency shelters to welcome displaced individuals.
Last week, a number of attacks on communication devices were recorded across Lebanon, causing them to explode and ultimately affect civilians in public spaces, including children. These attacks were deemed to be against international human rights law by the United Nations Human Rights Office.
The protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the delivery of aid to all vulnerable communities remains our highest priority. Needs are growing daily, particularly after the increased attacks the past few days. The international community must urgently demonstrate support by funding the emergency relief operations. Stakeholders with influence are urged to use their leverage to contain and prevent further escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, end the war in Gaza, and prevent a regional escalation of the conflict.
Specifically, we call for:
- Respect for the principles of International Humanitarian Law, which include the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure
- Protection of humanitarian workers, medical teams, and humanitarian sites, including first responders, and the facilitation of humanitarian operations
- Provision of increased, flexible, and timely disbursement of emergency funding to enable humanitarians to respond to growing needs
- Prioritization of key interventions in the case of further escalation, including shelter, health, food and water
The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire across Lebanon and in Gaza. The toll on civilian lives is immense, and without swift action towards a ceasefire, the situation will continue to worsen. As hostilities intensify, the risk of a broader regional escalation increases.