Lebanon Sees Surge in Cross-Border Movement
Since September 23, Lebanon has “recorded the crossing of 348,237 Syrian citizens and 156,505 Lebanese citizens into Syrian territory”, a Lebanese disaster management unit statement said.
A man runs for cover as a smoke raises in the background following an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, Beirut, Lebanon, on October 4. AP
Lebanese authorities on Friday (October 25) said that over 500,000 people, mostly Syrians, had crossed into Syrian territory since Israel started heavily striking Lebanon late last month in all-out war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, AFP reported.
Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon since late last month, aiming to secure its northern border after nearly a year of cross-border fire from the Iran-backed militant group.
Lebanon Reports Mass Crossings Into Syria
Since September 23, Lebanon has “recorded the crossing of 348,237 Syrian citizens and 156,505 Lebanese citizens into Syrian territory”, a statement from the Lebanese disaster management unit said.
However, it’s not like the escape route to Syria, or Syria itself, is exactly safe for people fleeing the continuous Israeli bombing.
The United Nations had already warned earlier in the day that Israel’s airstrike at the Jousieh border crossing has threatened the main escape route for people trying to save their lives by moving from Lebanon to Syria.
The Israeli military confirmed that it had struck the Jousieh crossing in Lebanon’s Bekaa area, where a road leads to Syria, saying it was being used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons.
“This is hindering and really putting at risk a main lifeline that people use to escape the conflict in Lebanon and cross into Syria,” said Rula Amin, Middle East spokeswoman for UNHCR.
This “is the only route these people have to escape Lebanon”, Amin told a media briefing in Geneva via video-link from the Jordanian capital Amman.
Unfortunately, the people crossing over the border are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Their end destination, Syria, is also ravaged by civil war. Over 90 per cent of the population in the country relies on humanitarian assistance, Amin said.
“The loss of options on how to stay safe is just so profound, it’s sad. It’s not right, it’s unacceptable,” she said.
With inputs from AFP
