"100,000 flee Lebanon for Syria amid Israeli strikes," says UN
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, announced Monday that approximately 100,000 people have fled from Lebanon to Syria, seeking refuge from Israeli Occupation airstrikes.
Grandi shared the news on the social media platform "X" (formerly known as Twitter), stating that around 100,000 people, including both Lebanese and Syrians, have crossed into Syria to escape the "Israeli" strikes, while also noting that the flow of refugees continues.
Grandi added that the UNHCR is present at four border crossings to assist those fleeing in coordination with local authorities and the Syrian Red Crescent.
The number of people who have crossed into Syria from Lebanon fleeing Israeli airstrikes — Lebanese and Syrian nationals — has reached 100,000. The outflow continues.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) September 30, 2024
UNHCR is present at four crossing points alongside local authorities and @SYRedCrescent to support new arrivals. pic.twitter.com/7dtrghsMH4
This follows a previous announcement made by the UNHCR on Saturday, reporting that more than 50,000 people had already fled to Syria.
The UNHCR representative in the region further explained that the refugees comprise approximately 80 percent Syrians returning to their home country and 20 percent Lebanese fleeing from their communities.
This development comes as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) intensified their bombardment of Lebanon since Sept. 23, justifying the strikes as efforts to secure the return of northern "Israeli" residents who had been displaced by the exchange of fire with Hezbollah.
The escalating violence has triggered widespread displacement within Lebanon, in addition to the flow of refugees into Syria.
In related news, Hezbollah announced on Monday that it had launched a missile barrage, including the "Fadi 2" rockets, targeting an Israeli Occupation base.
Additionally, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) launched an emergency operation on Sunday to provide food aid to one million people affected by the conflict in Lebanon.
Matthew Hollingworth, the WFP director in Lebanon, confirmed that the organization is preparing to deliver both cash and food aid to up to one million people. He called on the international community to provide USD 105 million to support the relief efforts through the end of the year.
