Statement by Jan Egeland, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s secretary general, on Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages following days of escalation in southern Lebanon and northern Israel:
“Israel’s airstrikes across Lebanese villages and cities on Monday are the most violent in 11 months. Residential areas and densely populated neighbourhoods were bombed, which means the human toll will be immense. Families were told they only had a couple of hours to leave home, and there are now long queues of cars as terrified families try to flee to Beirut and other affected areas. Many thousands will be displaced today.
“The Norwegian Refugee Council provides humanitarian aid to displaced Lebanese, and to Syrian and Palestinian refugees across Lebanon, including the areas that are now under bombardment. Our teams are currently all accounted for, but we fear that this latest wave of strikes will have a devastating impact on our lifeline to the communities we serve. They have already endured months of conflict, crossfire and deprivation.
“We urgently appeal for immediate de-escalation by all parties to the conflict and for an end to the indiscriminate attacks that destroy civilian homes and infrastructure. We appeal to donors to allow funding to help rehabilitate collective shelters and support countless families who will have lost their income. Lebanon hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees and finds itself in a severe economic crisis. In spite of this, international donors have cut their aid to the countries and aid groups have had to reduce their relief to communities in great need.
“The targeting of civilian areas in southern and eastern Lebanon and northern Israel escalates hostilities to a new and incredibly dangerous level. Further escalation will drive violence and destruction at an immense scale and risk a full-scale regional conflict. It has never been more critical to agree on a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as for Lebanon and Israel, to spare civilians across the region from further suffering and loss. Key powers in the region and around the globe must exert every effort to get all sides to stop this relentless bloodshed.”
Notes to editors
- The Lebanese ministry of health has said that 182 people have been killed and over 700 injured in Monday’s attacks.
- Lebanon hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees (UNHCR), alongside Palestinians.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147
“Israel’s airstrikes across Lebanese villages and cities on Monday are the most violent in 11 months. Residential areas and densely populated neighbourhoods were bombed, which means the human toll will be immense. Families were told they only had a couple of hours to leave home, and there are now long queues of cars as terrified families try to flee to Beirut and other affected areas. Many thousands will be displaced today.
“The Norwegian Refugee Council provides humanitarian aid to displaced Lebanese, and to Syrian and Palestinian refugees across Lebanon, including the areas that are now under bombardment. Our teams are currently all accounted for, but we fear that this latest wave of strikes will have a devastating impact on our lifeline to the communities we serve. They have already endured months of conflict, crossfire and deprivation.
“We urgently appeal for immediate de-escalation by all parties to the conflict and for an end to the indiscriminate attacks that destroy civilian homes and infrastructure. We appeal to donors to allow funding to help rehabilitate collective shelters and support countless families who will have lost their income. Lebanon hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees and finds itself in a severe economic crisis. In spite of this, international donors have cut their aid to the countries and aid groups have had to reduce their relief to communities in great need.
“The targeting of civilian areas in southern and eastern Lebanon and northern Israel escalates hostilities to a new and incredibly dangerous level. Further escalation will drive violence and destruction at an immense scale and risk a full-scale regional conflict. It has never been more critical to agree on a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as for Lebanon and Israel, to spare civilians across the region from further suffering and loss. Key powers in the region and around the globe must exert every effort to get all sides to stop this relentless bloodshed.”
Notes to editors
- The Lebanese ministry of health has said that 182 people have been killed and over 700 injured in Monday’s attacks.
- Lebanon hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees (UNHCR), alongside Palestinians.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147