Filippo Grandi, head of the United Nations Refugee Agency, made this request on Sunday. Israel launched this attack targeting Hezbollah extremists in Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, more than 2,000 people have been killed and more than 10,000 injured in almost a year of Israeli attacks.
Israel has stepped up its bombing of Lebanon following the death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in September and Iran’s recent ballistic missile launches into Israeli cities.
Israel and Hezbollah have clashed over the past year, and thousands of people on both sides have been displaced.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi arrived in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Saturday and said millions of people displaced in recent days were in dire straits. Filippo Grandi also appealed for an immediate ceasefire.
Nearly two weeks of intense bombardment forced nearly 1 million people to flee their homes.
Filippo Grandi visited Beirut to express solidarity with the Lebanese government and show support for all those affected, including Lebanese and refugees.
Number of deaths
UNHCR says the war that has devastated Lebanon has also disrupted the supply of essential goods.
The UN refugee agency has called for security to be strengthened on all supply routes into and into Lebanon, so that relief supplies can continue.
Filippo Grandi met Prime Minister Nazim Mikati and other senior officials during his visit to Lebanon.
He also met senior officials involved in humanitarian assistance operations, UNHCR staff and displaced families.
“I saw today what a devastating effect this war is having on the whole community,” said Filippo Grandi.
He said, “International humanitarian law must be respected and cannot be ignored. “Families are left homeless, forced to live in the open without roofs, with their children scared and unable to understand what is happening.”
“They all expressed how desperate they are to feel safe, and that they want the airstrikes to stop immediately so they can return to their towns and villages.”
UNICEF relief work
The agency is also providing essential supplies to people, including cash assistance, shelter support, medical care and other assistance, UNHCR said on Sunday. But the international community must increase the scope and pace of its humanitarian aid to sustain humanitarian aid.
UNHCR has issued an appeal to raise nearly $111 million in donations to help an estimated 1 million people, to continue relief efforts until the end of 2024. The amount is part of a massive $425.7 million UN aid appeal.
Filippo Grandi’s visit to Lebanon also included meetings with displaced Syrian refugees in Beirut.
“I appreciate Lebanon’s generosity in hosting so many refugees, including those displaced from Syria,” he said.
“However, the country is facing many challenges as these refugees are again displaced and have no safe place to go.”
UNIFIL’s warning
UNIFIL, the United Nations interim monitoring mission along the Blue Line – the border line between Lebanon and Israel – has expressed deep concern over military activities by Israeli forces around some of the mission’s observation posts inside Lebanon. The mission provides many forms of assistance to the local population.
UNIFIL said in a tweet, “The Israeli forces have been informed of the current situation through regular channels. This is a very dangerous development.”
“Activities to undermine the security of UN peacekeeping missions deployed to implement Security Council mandates are unacceptable,” the UN mission said.
UNIFIL reminds all parties of their conflict of responsibilities to protect UN personnel and assets.