- Urgency of de-escalation of tensions in Lebanon

Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, reiterated the Secretary-General’s call that “all efforts should lead to a return to calm across the blue line,” adding that “over the past three weeks, tensions have been at their highest peak. The urgency of de-escalating tensions cannot be overstated.” The Humanitarian Coordinator today (20 Aug) spoke to reporters via video link. He said, “Ten months on, nearly 200,000 people have been displaced by the exchange of fire across the blue line, including more than 110,000 people in Lebanon, nearly 150,000 people remain within ten kilometers of the blue line in areas of South Lebanon that are impacted daily by shelling and air strands.” “At least 130 civilians have been killed in Lebanon, including the ten Syrian nationals this past weekend, 21 paramedics and at least three journalists have also been killed,” Riza stated. Humanitarian Coordinator also said, “Lebanon was already facing a grim situation of protracted political, financial, socioeconomic crisis before October last year. Now in 2024 those in need have reached 3.7 million people.” “This includes crisis affected Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians, other migrants,” he futher explained. He warned that “the conflict has further eroded the capacity of the State to tackle political, economic and security challenge and to provide basic services to the population.” Riza also noted that the “annual appeal for assistance for all of Lebanon isat this point in August only 25 percent funded. Nonetheless, we have managed to reach one million people with assistance and support so far this year, including at least 180,000 people affected by the conflict in South Lebanon.” He explained, “It's 2.72 billion with the overall appeal that is there for all our work in Lebanon on the humanitarian and stabilization side. We are asking, in addition to that, for $36.4 million which would be for preparedness, which would be for pre-positioning, essential, essential supplies, because we do worry about the situation escalating.” He concluded, “It's the prudent thing to do given the experience that also that we had in 2006, when it was very difficult to move around.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.