Over the weekend, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon reported heavy Israeli military activity, including airstrikes near villages, naval operations off Naqoura, and drone flights, some reportedly operated by Hezbollah. UNIFIL patrols faced restrictions when Israeli tanks blocked roads near Al Bayyada, and one UN vehicle was struck by machine gun fire. The UN stressed that peacekeepers must never be targeted and their safety must be guaranteed. Despite the insecurity, UNIFIL facilitated an aid convoy of 30 trucks to Rmeich, where thousands of residents remain under difficult conditions.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to worsen. Authorities confirmed 13 deaths, including women and a child, and 32 injuries from strikes in southern Lebanon. More than 124,000 people are now displaced, sheltering in schools and public buildings, with new evacuation orders in Nabatieh forcing additional families to flee. Many residents attempting to return home found their houses destroyed or inaccessible, pushing them back into shelters.
Healthcare services are under severe strain. Three hospitals and 41 primary healthcare centres are non-operational, while others function only partially. This has placed immense pressure on remaining facilities, reducing care quality and leaving many communities without essential services. Officials warn that without urgent support, complications, preventable deaths, and a deepening health crisis are likely.
In Gaza, displaced families are living in overcrowded tents and makeshift shelters with poor sanitation and limited access to safe water. UN relief chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the need for sustained humanitarian access, civilian protection, and trust-building to improve aid delivery. Last week, partners provided emergency supplies to thousands of households and installed improved shelters in Khan Younis.
Health concerns in Gaza are escalating, with rising cases of skin diseases and other illnesses linked to poor living conditions. More than 6,600 people require prosthetic and rehabilitation care, including thousands who lost limbs since the violence began in October 2023. With only eight prosthetic technicians available, humanitarian partners warn that addressing the needs of amputees—20 percent of whom are children—could take five years or more.
