Lebanon’s nearly 900 displacement shelters are almost full amid crisis

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS UNFOLDING IN LEBANON.

THE U-N REVEALED FRIDAY MOST OF THE COUNTRY’S NEARLY 900 SHELTERS CAN NO LONGER TAKE PEOPLE IN.

HOTELS AND NIGHTCLUBS ARE OPENING THEIR DOORS TO THOSE IN NEED.

BEIRUT AND MOUNT LEBANON SAID THEIR SHELTERS ARE FULL BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAID OTHER CITIES HAD SOME SPACE IN SHELTERS.

MANY OF THE SHELTERS ARE SCHOOLS WITH EDUCATION PUT ON HOLD.

AND NEARLY HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY’S EMERGENCY SHELTERS WERE DISPLACED CHILDREN AS OF THURSDAY.

FACILITIES PREVIOUSLY SAID THEY WERE OPERATING BEYOND CAPACITY, ACCORDING TO HUMANITARIAN OFFICIALS.

SOME IN LEBANON ARE STAYING ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY’RE REFUGEES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND FEAR BEING DEPORTED.

THE U-N ALSO SAYS ROADS ARE JAM-PACKED WITH PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS AND HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS.

MANY ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES CUTTING OF LEBANON’S BORDER WITH SYRIA. 

THOSE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION ARE ALSO HAVING TO WAIT.

A HOSPITAL WAS EVACUATED FRIDAY AS ISRAELI SHELLING KNOCKED OUT THE FACILITY’S SERVICE TEMPORARILY.

MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION LEBANESE PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES AND MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND HAVE BEEN KILLED AMID THE CONFLICT OVER THE PAST YEAR.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.