The United Nations welcomes the meeting between Lebanon and Israel in Washington as a step towards “breaking the recurring cycles of violence”

During the daily press conference in New York, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations, said that maintaining dialogue will be essential to resolving the outstanding issues and making progress towards achieving stability.

He added that the organization remains ready to support these efforts, and continues to urge parties to implement Security Council Resolution No. 1701 Completely.

Meanwhile, needs are growing in Lebanon, while the Israeli military renewed an immediate evacuation order for communities south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River, expanding the core evacuation area beyond the Litani River.

In various parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, dozens of sites are subjected to Israeli strikes daily, as reports indicate that at least 35 villages in the south were bombed yesterday, resulting in widespread damage to residential areas.

For its part, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed its deep concern about the situation in Bint Jbeil district in Nabatieh Governorate, in light of reports of armed clashes since Monday, which further restricted the movement of civilians and limited their ability to access basic services and humanitarian aid.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, Haq renewed the United Nations call for an immediate halt to the escalation, full respect for international humanitarian law – including the protection of civilians, and ensuring sustainable and unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as an urgent intensification of funding.

Visit of the High Commissioner

These developments come as the newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, visits Lebanon to express his solidarity with the country and its people, and to push for the protection of civilians and an end to the escalating conflict.

Saleh visited the affected areas in Beirut and the Bekaa, where he met with displaced families in sites established by the government. He also met with senior officials in the country, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri.

The High Commissioner stressed the organization’s continued commitment to the humanitarian response, and the urgent need for sustained international support for national efforts, in light of the continuing hostilities and large-scale displacement.

Healthcare is under fire

The World Health Organization reports that attacks targeting the healthcare sector in Lebanon continue, raising serious concerns about access to life-saving services.

The organization reported 133 attacks targeting health facilities and their workers since the escalation of hostilities, killing at least 87 people and wounding about 200 other health workers.

Despite the existing challenges, health services are still continuing; Nearly one hundred thousand medical consultations were provided, and thousands of displaced people received medicines and vaccines. However, unrest remains, with dozens of primary health care centers closed and hospitals under severe pressure, especially in emergency and intensive care departments.

Since early March, more than 2,100 people have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured, with children and women among the victims. Last Wednesday was the bloodiest, with hundreds killed and more than a thousand people injured.

A peacekeeping convoy was stopped

In a related context, yesterday, Israeli forces stopped a convoy of peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, despite prior coordination, which raised concerns about the restrictions imposed on the movements of UN forces.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said:UNIFILThe convoy, which was transporting individuals and contractors to its headquarters in Naqoura, was stopped a few kilometers from its destination before it was allowed to continue on its way, while the local contractors were returned to Beirut.

The mission noted that similar incidents had occurred in recent days, and warned that continued restrictions may disrupt the arrival of vital supplies, such as food, fuel, and water, and may hinder its ability to implement its mandate, including monitoring violations along the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel.

UNIFIL renewed its call on the Israeli army to respect and adhere to the agreed-upon arrangements, and to fulfill its obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeeping forces and to guarantee the freedom of movement of all its patrols and logistical convoys.

Fragile communications network

On the other hand, the Lebanese communications network is still functioning at the national level, but it has become increasingly fragile under the pressures resulting from the ongoing conflict.

The Logistics and Communications Cluster – led by the World Food Programme – reported that damage to infrastructure, dependence on fuel, and chronic financial pressures are all factors that exacerbate the risks to the continuity of communications.

Assessments conducted in southern Lebanon showed that access to reliable telecommunications services, electricity, and information remains uneven and uneven among affected communities.

She called on humanitarian teams to approve the use of satellite communications systems to support relief operations, stressing the importance of these systems in maintaining coordination and providing life-saving aid in hard-to-reach areas.