Beirut, Lebanon - October 03, 2024

The Lebanese capital city of Beirut is currently under mounting pressures in sheltering displaced people fleeing their homes to seek refuge in the city amid Israeli attacks, according to Marwan Abboud, governor of Beirut.

Israeli airstrikes have forced residents from southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beirut's southern suburbs to leave their homes in search of shelter in safer areas since the conflict between Lebanon and Israel heightened following the communication device explosions in September.

The influx of displaced people has posed a challenge to Beirut's infrastructure, said Abboud.

Abboud said there is great uncertainty over assessment of the risk as Israel has no red lines.

Taking missed revenues and increased expenses into account, the conflict is expected to cause a loss of billions of U.S. dollars to the city, said Abboud.

The total number of displaced people in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes has risen to nearly 1.2 million, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers.

According to the report, most displaced individuals have relocated to their homes in other areas, stayed with family, rented accommodations, or found shelter in public or private spaces, while thousands of others traveled by air or crossed into Syria.

From Sept. 23 to 29, the crossing of 234,023 Syrians and 76,269 Lebanese citizens into Syrian territory was recorded, it added.

The report notes that 867 centers have been established to receive displaced people across Lebanon, with 643 of them reaching their maximum capacity.

Israel has recently intensified its airstrikes on Beirut and its suburbs to target Hezbollah officials and facilities while simultaneously managing to push into Lebanon in what it said was a "limited" ground military operation.

Shotlist:
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024:
1. Various of makeshift shelter converted from residence center, displaced people;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 1, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan Abboud, governor of Beirut (partially overlaid with shot 3):
"The problem is that Beirut is a city with limited space. Its area is 22 square kilometers, and it has a highly dense population of 1.8 million people. We are already hosting Syrian and Palestinian refugees. There are no vacant areas. So, we are forced to convert schools and public places and buildings into shelters for those displaced. This weakens infrastructure of the city.";
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Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024
3. Various of displaced people, staff members at makeshift shelter converted from residence center;
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Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 2, 2024
4. Various of damaged buildings;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 1, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan Abboud, governor of Beirut (partially overlaid with shot 6/ending with shot 7):
"This is a very concerning issue. It indicates that Israel has no red lines. And that it does whatever it likes. The people of Beirut are still staunch, but with every day of war, they think they are heading to uncertainties. Where will be the next hit? In which street a hit will take place and whose house will collapse? In the past, we could assess the risk, but now all red lines have fallen.";
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Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 2, 2024
6. Damaged buildings;
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7. Various of damaged building, broken windows;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 1, 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan Abboud, governor of Beirut (partially overlaid with shot 9):
"Our revenues have collapsed, and expenses are growing in an unprecedented way. In addition, there are more emergency expenses required. All of that falls on the city's shoulders. The cost is multiplying. Between the missed revenues and direct expenses, we are talking about billions of U.S. dollars. It is a huge pressure on the Lebanese economy. I hereby make an appeal to other Arab nations and the rest of the international community -- if they can't stop the Israeli aggression, the least they can do is to provide aid.";
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9. National flag of Lebanon;
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Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 2, 2024
10. Various of damaged buildings.

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