AMEL Association International Update: The escalation of violence in Lebanon
In addition to the figures and interventions reported in this Situation Report (SITREP), Amel Association International (Amel) continues to ensure the continuity of its livelihood, protection, health, food security, and education activities whenever and wherever possible. The organization reaches thousands of individuals on a monthly basis. If you would like to receive our regular SITREP, please send an email to: [email protected].
Context
The escalation of violence in Lebanon is intensifying for the fourth consecutive week, with Israeli airstrikes continuing to target densely populated areas, including the southern suburbs of Beirut. On the night of Sunday, October 20, several intense strikes resulted in damages to the Chiyah and Hay El Selloum Amel centers. Despite these damages, Amel teams remain operational, notably through mobile medical units and roving field teams to ensure continuous service provision.
The situation is even more concerning in the South where the Amel center in Khiam was already destroyed in June and was damaged again in the last days. In the last week, intensive bombings have particularly targeted the city of Nabatiyeh, resulting in the deaths of municipal staff members. Border villages continue to face constant pressure and some have been almost completely destroyed, while the Bekaa Valley, especially the Baalbeck region, remains under attack. In the North, airstrikes targeted Zgharta on October 14, hitting a residential building in the village of Ayto. They also targeted the Jounieh highway on October 19, hitting a vehicle with a drone, marking an expansion of the targeted areas.
According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, the toll continues to rise: 2,448 people have been killed and 11,471 injured, including 8,622 between September 17 and October 17, illustrating the extent of the violence affecting the entire country for nearly a month. Approximately 1.2 million people are directly affected by these events, and the needs remain substantial, particularly regarding access to safe shelters, essential relief items, healthcare, and protection services. As of October 17, 191,955 individuals were seeking refuge in 1,095 collective shelters, of which only 151 still have available capacity. Many public spaces, such as the Corniche and Martyrs' Square, continue to host a significant number of displaced persons, including many children.
Amidst this crisis, Amel remains committed to its humanitarian response, focusing on delivering basic assistance, primary health services, and protection support to those affected by the conflict, including internally displaced persons. In parallel, Amel emphasizes a coordinated and complementary response, collaborating with other partners through relevant government and United Nations-led structures.
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