The UNs top humanitarian official warned theSecurity Councilon Tuesday that Lebanon is facing one of its most dangerous moments in years, with escalating violence, mass displacement and deepening human suffering pushing the country to breaking point
Briefing ambassadors from Beirut, Emergency Relief CoordinatorTom Fletchersaid he arrived to findanxiety and tensions at levels I have not witnessed in many years, as airstrikes and drone activity continue to shake the capital and surrounding areas
The situation on both sides of the Blue Line demands not only the Councils closest attention, but alsoyour collective action to avert an even worse crisis, he stressed, describing the discussion as urgent
Mr Fletcher said the humanitarian toll has worsened sharply Over the past four weeks,more than 1,240 people have been killed and another 3,500 injured, he said, noting that women, children and first responders are among the dead
Coercive displacement
More than 11 million people were displaced in that time, including hundreds of thousands of childrenA cycle of coercive displacement is unfolding, he warned, with families repeatedly forced to flee Displacement is not a solution, but a painful last resort a temporary way to preserve dignity
He said civilians on both sides of the line are living in fear, as rockets continue to be fired into northern Israel while Israeli strikes devastate parts of southern Lebanon, Beiruts southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley Entire villages have been flattened, and vital infrastructure destroyed, including most bridges south of the Litani river
Civilians, wherever they are, in Israel and in Lebanon, must be protected, Mr Fletcher said, underscoring that international humanitarian law requires distinction, proportionality and precaution Healthcare, water and electricitymust also and always be spared
Isolation grows
The impact on basic services is severe, with hospitals and clinics forced to close and schools turned into shelters Entire communities are becoming increasingly isolated, he added
Despite the crisis, humanitarian agencies have scaled up operations, delivering millions of meals and essential supplies But funding remains short Of a $308 million emergency appeal, only $94 million has been received so far
Above all, Mr Fletcher conveyed a direct message from those affected:They want safety They want dignity They want this to stop
He urged Council members to act decisively, posing stark questions about how civilians will be protected, how the international community should respond to mass displacement, and how to prevent further political instability
Turning to the Lebanese people, he offered a message of solidarity and resolve: Dont give up on the idea of Lebanon If co-existence fails here, it stands to fail everywhere
We have often said that we cannot let Lebanon fail, he concluded Now is a real test of that promise
Peacekeeper killings should not have happened
The emergency meeting was called by France after three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed this week, and several others seriously wounded, in two separate incidents that occurred within a 24-hour period and amid the wider war in the region
These tragic developments should not have happened, saidUN peacekeeping chiefJean-Pierre Lacroix, who briefed alongside Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and the UN relief chief
UNIFIL is conducting investigations to determine the circumstances of the two abhorrent incidents but peacekeepers are also facing aworrying increase in denials of freedom of movement and aggressive behaviour, Mr Lacroix reported
We say it clearly, and there has been a need to say it far too often: Peacekeepers must never be a target, he stressed
All acts that endanger the peacekeepers must immediately stopThe inviolability of United Nations installations must be respected
In the interim, UNIFIL continuously reassesses its deployment to mitigate risks and strengthen force protectionThe mission remains in constant contact with the parties to avoid misunderstandings, de-conflict and de-escalate where possible
Council backing, indispensable
He underscored the critical need to support the sides in fully implementingSecurity Councilresolution 1701(2006), which ended hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah two decades ago
In this exceptionally dangerous period, the Council's strong and unified backing for UNIFIL and its peacekeepers is not merely important it is indispensable, he said
The women and men serving under this mandate must know that this Council stands firmly behind them
