UN warns of 'catastrophic' situation in Lebanon
The United Nations has warned that Lebanon is facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis as the number of internally displaced people has reached 600,000 and Israel continues to step up its attacks against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah says its fighters are fighting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, using rocket-propelled grenades to thwart Israeli attempts to infiltrate the border.
“Lebanon is facing a conflict and humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon, said at a press conference. She expressed “hope that Israel will now also be willing to support calls for de-escalation of the conflict.”
However, as fighting continues, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that Lebanon could face "a protracted war... like what we saw in Gaza".
Since September 23, according to a summary from AFP based on official figures, Israel has increased airstrikes on Hezbollah bases in Lebanon, killing more than 1,190 people and displacing more than 1 million.
Lebanon is going through "one of the deadliest periods" in recent history, with 600,000 people internally displaced - more than 350,000 of them children, said Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon.
"Even wars have rules," he said.
Israel has refused to rule out attacks on Beirut's civilian airport and the roads leading to it, even as thousands of people are still leaving the country by air and land every day.
"We do not target civilians. But at the same time, if we detect Hezbollah activities or intentions to launch rockets into Israel, we will act like any other country," said Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon.
Israeli ground forces entered Lebanon on September 30 in response to Hezbollah rocket and artillery attacks over the past year that have forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes in border areas.
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