Lebanese officials announced that the number of internally displaced persons has exceeded one million amid an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The figure represents nearly 19 percent of Lebanon's population and marks one of the largest displacement crises in the country's recent history.

The surge in displacement followed intensified Israeli airstrikes starting around March 2, 2026, after a ceasefire from November 2024 broke down. Israel's military has conducted limited ground operations in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, while issuing evacuation orders covering about 14 percent of Lebanese territory, including southern regions, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley. Over 132,000 displaced people are sheltering in nearly 600 collective sites, with many others hosted by families or living in informal settings like cars and streets.

Casualties have mounted rapidly, with Lebanon's Health Ministry reporting at least 912 deaths, including 111 children, and over 2,200 wounded since the escalation began. Among the dead are 30 healthcare workers, with recent strikes killing paramedics. Early Wednesday, Israeli aircraft bombed central Beirut and struck areas in the south and east, killing at least 20 people.

The crisis compounds Lebanon's existing vulnerabilities, including about one million Syrian refugees and ongoing economic woes. Humanitarian agencies warn of overcrowding in shelters, inadequate water and sanitation, rising food prices, and strained health services. The UN and Lebanese government launched a $308 million flash appeal on March 13, while the International Organization for Migration seeks $19 million to aid over one million affected individuals with shelter, water, and protection.

Aid groups like CARE described families sleeping on sidewalks and shelters nearing capacity after one million displaced in just 15 days as of March 17. "What we feared is now unfolding before our eyes," said CARE Lebanon Country Director Michael Adams. UN officials urged respect for international humanitarian law amid risks to civilians and aid workers.

Israel maintains the operations aim to neutralize Hezbollah threats following rocket fire into northern Israel, preventing a repeat of previous displacements of its own citizens. Hezbollah has vowed resistance. The conflict shows no immediate signs of abating, with UN agencies scaling up responses despite access challenges.