Lebanon: The health needs are enormous and UNIFIL reports Israeli strikes on the south

UNIFIL also noted reports that Israeli forces struck targets along the Lebanese-Syrian border. The mission again called on all parties to refrain from hostilities. She reported that the new monitoring mechanism envisaged under the cessation of hostilities met today for the first time in Lebanon.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the daily press conference that more details will be provided in this regard as soon as they are obtained. He added that the United Nations – including UNIFIL and the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon – will support this mechanism and the cessation of hostilities, within the framework of the mandate of Security Council Resolution 1701.

Humanitarian conditions

On the humanitarian front, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that it continues to closely monitor people’s movements and support the humanitarian response, which is now focused on meeting the needs of displaced people who have begun to return to their communities, as well as those who are still displaced or on the move, and host communities, and those who remained in hard-to-reach areas throughout the conflict.

The World Health Organization said that while the cessation of hostilities provides a much-needed breather, health needs in the country remain enormous. She added that health services have been severely affected, and that widespread damage to water, sanitation and municipal infrastructure increases the risk of disease outbreaks.

Vaccination coverage has fallen dramatically, leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases, while thousands of individuals with traumatic, life-altering injuries urgently require reconstructive surgery. The organization confirmed that it and its partners continue to support the health response, rehabilitate and reopen hospitals.

For its part, the organization continues UNICEF Address the needs of children and families affected by the ongoing crisis, including preventing family separation and reuniting unaccompanied children with their families.