Between April 17 and 28 alone, 48 people were killed and 183 injured, bringing the total number of victims since the escalation began on March 2 to more than 2,500 dead and more than 7,800 injured, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
Despite a prolonged ceasefire, the situation remains “fragile and volatile.” Continued violence hampers humanitarian access and recovery efforts, OCHA said.
Aid agencies have managed to carry out 100 assisted missions in hard-to-reach areas through a UN-coordinated notification system, allowing some aid to reach communities under pressure.
Hunger worsens in Lebanon
Insecurity, coupled with the economic impact of conflict, has further strained livelihoods, while rising costs and supply disruptions are worsening food insecurity.
Estimates indicate that Almost a quarter of the population faces acute hunger..
A new alert from the IPC, the UN-backed global food security tracker, warned on Wednesday that the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Around 1.2 million people could face high levels of acute food insecurity between now and August.
“Behind every figure there are families who struggle to meet their food needs constantly,”said the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), as it continues to expand assistance, together with its partners.
Public services to the limit
The humanitarian situation is further aggravated by displacement and the fragility of public services.
At a school converted into a shelter in Jdeideh, in the northern city of Beirut, 377 people – around 90 families – are living in overcrowded conditions, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported, highlighting pressures on basic infrastructure.
The UN health agency has been working with partners to strengthen medical treatment options, including supporting hospital blood banks to ensure life-saving transfusions during emergencies.
Diplomatic efforts continue
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to stabilize the country continue.
UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun Thursday to discuss efforts to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and promote stability, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.
He has also held talks with Israeli officials in recent days.
A United Nations Development Program worker examines the damage at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Conditions in Gaza deteriorate
In Gaza, humanitarian conditions remain dire, with families facing overcrowded shelters, limited access to water and increasing health risks.
OCHA said U.N. teams and partners visiting displacement sites in eastern Gaza City found around 600 families living in “harsh conditions,” sheltering in damaged buildings and tents with little access to clean water and virtually no sanitation services.
Rodents and insects are widespread, increasing the risk of disease.while untreated waste and overcrowding are aggravating already difficult living conditions.
With few opportunities to earn a living, children are increasingly venturing into high-risk areas where Israeli forces remain deployed, collecting materials to sell, humanitarian organizations reported.
Access limitations and ongoing insecurity continue to limit aid delivery, and emergency medical services are largely unavailable in many areas.
Hidden dangers
The crisis is further aggravated by the threat of unexploded ordnance, which continues to pose deadly risks and hamper recovery.
According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), more than 1,200 people have been killed or injured by explosive devices in Gaza since October 2023. Almost half of the victims are children.
Widespread pollution
Widespread contamination prevents families from returning home safely and obstructs humanitarian operations, as aid convoys risk detonating trying to reach affected communities.
“Families cannot safely return to their hometowns to begin rebuilding their lives without risking finding explosive devices in the rubble.”said Julius Van Der Walt, head of UNMAS in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
With around 1.9 million people displaced and 60 percent of the population homeless, the scale of the destruction has set back development in Gaza for decades, he added.