On October 22, Nasser Yassin, Lebanon’s Minister responsible for coordinating crisis response, revealed the harsh realities facing the nation. He stated that Lebanon requires over $250 million monthly to support the 1.3 million people displaced by Israeli military attacks. Many of these individuals are currently sheltering in public buildings or with relatives. Unfortunately, the government’s measures can only meet about 20% of their needs, despite assistance from NGOs and international aid.
As daily airstrikes escalate, Yassin emphasized that the situation is urgent, with an increasing number of people forced to flee their homes. “We need $250 million each month to address the fundamental needs for food, hygiene, and educational services for the displaced,” he explained.
To respond to the crisis, various locations, including schools, old slaughterhouses, fresh produce markets, and vacant buildings, are being converted into makeshift shelters. “We are transforming everything, repurposing all public facilities… There’s still a lot to be done,” Yassin remarked.
He also warned that if the number of displaced individuals continues to rise, Lebanon could face challenges in curbing illegal immigration to Europe.
Prior to the outbreak of conflict, Yassin served as the Minister of Environment, focusing on forest fire prevention. He now finds himself working mostly at the government headquarters alongside crisis response teams.
This crisis team is comprised of members from various Lebanese ministries, as well as organizations such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Lebanese Red Cross. They are currently planning a relief operation expected to last between four to six months. However, Yassin remains hopeful that the war will end soon.
In a meeting scheduled for October 24 in France regarding the Lebanese crisis, Yassin expressed his intent to voice a crucial message: “We need to achieve a ceasefire today. We need every member of the international community to stand up and acknowledge the current situation… One member state of the United Nations is waging one of the most aggressive wars in history against a small country. This is the message we must convey.”
According to reports from Central News Agency, the Israeli military announced on October 23 that it had killed three Hezbollah commanders and around 70 armed militants in southern Lebanon over the past 48 hours. The day prior, they confirmed the killing of Hashem Safieddine, who is likely to succeed the recently slain Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a press release: “In southern Lebanon, our forces continue to carry out limited, localized, and targeted attacks on Hezbollah’s infrastructure and personnel.” They further indicated, “In the past day, our troops have eliminated approximately 70 militants through ground and aerial strikes.”
As of October 22, the Lebanese government reported that the ongoing Israeli offensive has displaced at least 1.3 million individuals and resulted in 2,530 deaths, with at least 63 fatalities occurring within the last 24 hours.
