West Asia crisis: UN refugee agency says 50,000 people from Lebanon fled to Syria; 200k displaced

The UN refugee chief said Saturday that more than 50,000 people had fled to Syria amid escalating Israeli air strikes onLebanon.

"More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living inLebanonhave now crossed into Syria fleeing Israeli air strikes," Filippo Grandi said on X.

He added that "well over 200,000 people are displaced insideLebanon".

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A UNHCR spokesman said the total number of displaced inLebanonhad reached 211,319, including 118,000 just since Israel dramatically ramped up its air strikes on Monday.

The remainder had fled their homes since Hezbollah militants inLebanonbegan low-intensity cross-border attacks a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, triggering war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza toLebanon, where heavy bombing has killed more than 700 people, according toLebanon's health ministry, as cross-border exchanges escalated over the past week.

Most of those Lebanese deaths came on Monday, the deadliest day of violence sinceLebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

"Relief operations are underway, including by UNHCR, to help all those in need, in coordination with both governments," Grandi said.

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