Following the Israeli military's airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, hundreds of families have been forced to seek shelter in public spaces, including beaches and squares. Among those displaced are individuals who had previously fled to Lebanon to escape conflict in other regions.
One Syrian refugee, Fatima Chahine, recounted fleeing with her family on a motorbike from Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed. She described the harrowing experience of navigating through bombings and strikes to reach the Ramlet al-Bayda public beach, emphasizing the need for a safe haven for her children.
Lebanese citizen Talal Ahmad Jassaf shared his struggles in finding shelter for his family, ultimately resorting to sleeping on the beach due to overcrowded schools and shelters. He expressed concerns about seeking refuge in Syria due to the risks of airstrikes along the journey.
Displaced families have been observed camping out in various public areas, reminiscent of past conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for residents of Dahiyeh, prompting a swift exodus amid ongoing airstrikes.
Nasser Yassine, head of the Lebanon Crisis Observatory, reported that over 100,000 individuals have been officially registered as displaced, with estimates suggesting up to 250,000 people seeking refuge in collective shelters.
The escalation of cross-border fighting has uprooted civilians in both Israel and Lebanon, with Israel aiming to repatriate tens of thousands of its displaced citizens to northern regions.
