Israel-Hezbollah conflict: UN agency launches emergency operation to provide food to 1 mn people in Lebanon

The United Nations (UN)World Food Programme (WFP) said on Sunday (Sep29) that it had launched an emergency operationto provide meals for one million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon.

In a statement, the WFP said, "A further acceleration of the conflict this weekend underscored the need for an immediate humanitarian response." The WFP added that it wasdistributing ready-to-eat food rations, bread, hot meals and food parcels to shelters across Lebanon.

Israelon Sunday said that it was carrying out new air strikes on dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, two days after killing the Iran-backed militant group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in bombing raids outside Beirut.

'Bombing of Lebanon is compounding fragility of...'

The killing of Nasrallahmarked a sharp escalation in nearly a year of tit-for-tat cross-border fire betweenIsraeland Hezbollah since the latter's Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack onIsraelon October 7, 2023.

The WFP said on Sunday that the ongoing bombing inLebanon wascompounding the fragility of a population burdened by accumulated crises.

In a statement, the agency's country director for LebanonMatthew Hollingworth said, "In just a few days, WFP assistance has reached thousands of newly displaced people."

"As the crisis deepens, we are preparing to assist up to one million people through a mix of cash and food support," Hollingworth added and called out the international community to mobilise $105 million to fund the operation through to the end of the year.

One million people may be displaced by Israeli attacks: Lebanon PM

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikatsaid on Sunday that Israel's intensifying attacks on the country may have displaced up to one million people, the news agency AFP reported. PMMikat held an emergency cabinet meeting on the ongoing conflict.

"The number of displaced people... could reach a million. Let's not forget the large influx from the south and the Bekaa" Mikat told reporters following the meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)

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