UN Rights Chief Expresses Deep Concern Over Lebanon Escalation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has voiced grave concern over the escalating violence in Lebanon, as tensions in the region intensify. The conflict, which has resulted in civilian casualties and widespread destruction, has drawn international attention and calls for restraint.
Rising Hostilities and Humanitarian Implications
Clashes along Lebanon‘s borders and within its territories have raised alarm about the potential for a broader conflict. The UN rights chief highlighted the devastating impact on civilians, urging all parties to prioritize the protection of human rights and ensure humanitarian access. The violence has disrupted daily life and forced many families to flee their homes, exacerbating the region’s refugee crisis.
Calls for De-Escalation
In a strongly worded statement, the UN official urged all stakeholders to respect international humanitarian law and engage in dialogue to prevent further bloodshed. The escalation poses risks not only for Lebanon but also for regional stability.
UN Rights Chief
The situation underscores the need for collective international efforts to mediate and support peace initiatives while addressing the underlying causes of the conflict. The world watches anxiously as Lebanon navigates this critical juncture. The UN rights chief on Tuesday voiced concern about the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, where his office said nearly 100 people had been reported killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including women, children and medics.
Israel has been locked in fighting with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah since Oct. 2023, and fighting has escalated dramatically since late September of this year.
“UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk is gravely concerned by the escalation in Lebanon with at least 97 people reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes between the 22nd and 24th of November,” Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, told a Geneva press briefing.
He said that at least seven paramedics had been reported killed in three Israeli strikes in the south of Lebanon on Nov. 22-23, adding to 226 healthcare worker deaths since Oct. 7, 2023. He did not specify how many of the recent deaths had been verified by UN human rights monitors.
Israel says it targets military capabilities in Lebanon and Gaza and takes steps to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. It accuses Hezbollah, like Hamas, of hiding among civilians, which they deny.
Source: eNCA
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