The expanding regional conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, leaving more than a million people displaced from their homes.
The mass exodus follows sweeping evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for large swathes of southern Lebanon. The directives are part of an intensified offensive against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant faction. Tensions escalated sharply after Hezbollah launched rocket barrages into northern Israel earlier this month, an aggressive campaign of cross-border fire that the group continues to maintain.
With official shelters now strained beyond capacity, a dire reality is unfolding on the ground. Families are being forced to brave severe weather conditions, taking refuge in their cars or huddled in fragile, makeshift encampments in open spaces. Among those left completely exposed to the elements are highly vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and young children.
A significant number of those fleeing hail from neighborhoods where Hezbollah has traditionally held deep support, notably the Dahieh district in Beirut's southern suburbs. The psychological toll of the sudden displacement is proving to be just as devastating as the physical hardship; one young boy, forced to abandon his home in the capital, described the profound "shame" he felt having to sleep on the pavement.