LATEST: After Israeli strikes, “despair and a heightened sense of insecurity” in Lebanon
New information reveals that the following story has emerged from the international scene.
In Lebanon, a day of national mourning was declared this Thursday, April 9. This shows the shock after the hundred bombings in ten minutes which hit the country the day before and left at least 200 dead and a thousand injured, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health. “We will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever necessary, until we have fully restored security for the inhabitants of northern Israel,” wrote Benjamin Netanyahu on his X account, while France, the United Kingdom and the European Union are calling for Lebanon to be included in ceasefire discussions with Iran. Tehran, warns the UN. In the country, these strikes have sown chaos and traumatized the population, explains Hassan El Sayed, coordinator of the NGO Solidarités International, present in Saïda, in southern Lebanon. What is the situation in Saïda? Until then, the city was relatively spared. Yesterday there was an escalation in the intensity of the bombings, notably in Saida, where a university was attacked, almost in the city center. The day before, a coffee had been knocked down. Beirut was also hit very hard, and not only in the southern suburbs. Areas which were considered rather secure or less targeted were struck without notification. I was in a humanitarian convoy further south at the time of the strikes, in the area of Ansariyeh, Zefta and Babliyeh, for a distribution of food and hygiene products. These strikes also increase our insecurity and our problem is being able to reach certain villages. We are analyzing the frequencies and times of bombings to try to reduce the risk of being under a bomb while we are helping people. What consequences have these strikes had on the population? With the ceasefire announcements the night before yesterday, there was a movement of hope. People displaced in collective centers, in private homes, on the street took the road to return home. They could have been in the areas targeted by the bombings unfortunately. Everyone was disillusioned with this hope of return completely destroyed. Incomprehension, anger, trauma, frustration… It is clear that there is an extremely reinforced feeling of despair and insecurity. This is honestly a very, very, very traumatic situation for the entire Lebanese population. Are we seeing an escalation of the conflict? Yes. While there was potential for a reduction in violence, we are exactly the opposite of a ceasefire with these strikes. Lebanon faces an intensification of the conflict, and, therefore, more civilian casualties and destruction. The population hoped for peace, at least a ceasefire. It’s a cold shower. She finds herself having to live in a new conflict situation, more intense, more arbitrary, and with an increase in humanitarian impacts. How is humanitarian aid organized in this situation? Yesterday’s bombings destroyed the last bridge over the Litani River. This cut off three-quarters of southern Lebanon. People still have stocks at home. But very quickly, if a solution is not found to be able to access these people, we will face a humanitarian crisis of an unprecedented scale in this country.
Analysis and Perspective:
Experts suggest this event marks a turning point that may influence policy decisions worldwide.
This is part of a broader trend that has been reshaping the geopolitical landscape in recent months.
We encourage our readers to follow this developing story for the latest information.
Source: This article was originally published in another language by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.