Beirut, 27 September 2024--The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), along with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), have released a sobering new brief detailing the devastating impact of recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The policy brief, titled "The Multidimensional Impact of Israeli Attacks on Lebanon," calls for urgent international intervention to end the conflict, address its root causes, and restore stability to the region in line with international law and United Nations resolutions.
Rising Human Toll and Overwhelmed Health System
The brief paints a grim picture of the human toll. In a single day, on 23 September, Israeli airstrikes killed 569 people and wounded 1,850 wounded, including 50 children and 94 women- marking one of the deadliest single-day airstrike casualties in the twenty-first century.
The surge in casualties has pushed Lebanon's strained health-care system to the brink. Hospitals are struggling to cope, and the mass displacement of over 200,000 people-many of them women and children-has created an acute humanitarian crisis, with access to essential services such as education and health care severely restricted.
Economic and Social Fallout
The conflict is wreaking havoc on Lebanon's economy, with poverty rates in southern regions projected to skyrocket. The poverty headcount is expected to reach 94% in Nabatiyeh Governorate and 87% in South Lebanon Governorate, two areas that have suffered the brunt of the destruction. Over 23,000 homes in these regions have been damaged or destroyed.
"This conflict has devastated not only infrastructure but also the very fabric of society," said Rola Dashti, ESCWA Executive Secretary. "The destruction of homes, schools, and health-care facilities, coupled with widespread displacement, is eroding human capital and tearing apart social cohesion."
Key Sectors in Jeopardy
Key sectors of the Lebanese economy have also been hit hard. Tourism, a vital lifeline, could see losses exceeding $3 billion, while the agricultural sector has been decimated by the use of phosphorus and incendiary bombs. The brief warns that such systematic targeting of agricultural assets threatens food security and livelihoods in rural communities, complicating any recovery efforts.
State Capacity on the Brink
Lebanon's fragile State institutions are struggling to cope with the fallout. The ongoing conflict, coupled with dwindling public resources and a lack of international support, is pushing the Government towards a potential collapse, the brief cautions. Efforts to manage the humanitarian and developmental crises are being stretched to the breaking point.
A Plea for Global Intervention
ESCWA and partners are calling for immediate international action to prevent further devastation. "Ending the conflict and addressing its root causes is crucial for the well-being of the peoples of the region but also for the stability of the entire region," Dashti emphasized. The brief calls for a coordinated, area-based approach to recovery and reconstruction, supported by the global community, to ensure a sustainable path forward for Lebanon's war-torn regions. As the violence rages on, the need for swift and decisive international intervention has never been more critical, the brief concludes.
