Geneva, Switzerland - October 08, 2024

United Nations (UN) officials expressed concern about the potential repetition of Gaza's humanitarian disaster in Lebanon amid escalating hostilities, as many people have to flee their homes to escape the Israeli bombardments.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday via a video link, Matthew Hollingworth, Country Director in Lebanon of the World Food Programme (WFP), briefed media about the current situation of Lebanese affected by the escalated conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

Noting that the intensified conflict between Israel and Lebanon also threatens Lebanon's domestic food security, Hollingworth said that in the past few weeks, about 1,900 hectares of agricultural land in the southern Lebanon have been destroyed.

In the country's major grain-producing areas, about 12,000 hectares of farmland have been abandoned, seriously affecting about 46,000 farmers, according to him.

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), said at the press conference he was shocked that Lebanon and the Gaza Strip had been attacked by the same Israeli military means, which have resulted in the displacement of a large number of civilians.

He called for preventing the tragedy in the Gaza Strip from being repeated in Lebanon.

Shotlist:
Geneva, Switzerland - Oct 8, 2024:
FILE: Geneva, Switzerland - Date Unknown
1. Exterior of Palace of Nations; flags;
Geneva, Switzerland - Oct 8, 2024
2. Press conference in progress;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 8, 2024
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Hollingworth, Country Director in Lebanon, World Food Programme (WFP):
"We have upwards of 1.2 million people affected now by this crisis, hundreds of thousands of people displaced from the seven districts in the frontline areas of the south of this country bordering Israel and of course the southern suburbs of Beirut, emptied many of these towns, villages and suburbs now little more than rubble.";
Geneva, Switzerland - Oct 8, 2024
4. Press conference in progress;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 8, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Hollingworth, Country Director in Lebanon, World Food Programme (WFP):
"There's now 973 formal shelters inside Beirut and the north of country with more than 200,000 people living there registered; 773 of those shelters are absolutely choc-a-block full.";
Geneva, Switzerland - Oct 8, 2024
6. Reporters;
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
"We're seeing civilians pay the ultimate price, whether it be the hospitals being closed, a million people displaced, civilians killed, schools impacted, the devastation is beyond belief for all people in Lebanon as it is in Gaza. We can't let this happen again.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 2, 2024
8. Various of smoke rising from rubble, damaged buildings, vehicles;
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 2, 2024
9. Various of displaced citizens at temporary shelter;
Lebanon - Recent
10. Various of smoke rising in urban area, suburban area, coastal area.

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