Israeli air raids on Lebanon have killed more than 1,450 people, including 126 children, and displaced some 1.2 million residents since March 2, according to Lebanese authorities. The bombardment has wounded more than 4,400 individuals — this figure includes civilian casualties and those injured in the crossfire.

Devastation in Southern Lebanon

In southern Lebanon’s Kfar Hatta. An Israeli attack killed seven people, including a four-year-old girl and a Lebanese soldier, the Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday. The Israeli military had ordered the forced evacuation of the town the previous evening, an area where many displaced Lebanese had sought refuge, though Residents described the town as a temporary haven, only to be turned into a target.

As the invasion expands deeper into southern Lebanon, leaving devastated villages behind, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has intensified calls for negotiation. “Why don’t we negotiate … until we can at least save the homes that have not yet been destroyed?” he pleaded in a televised address on Sunday, hoping to prevent destruction comparable to Israel’s Gaza operation. His comments followed a surge in Israeli strikes that have left many villages in ruins.

Tragedy in Toul Village

In Toul village in the Nabatieh district, a couple were killed while their children, aged 15 and nine, were injured. Multiple bombardments have wiped out entire families in single attacks. Officials report that approximately 25 percent of all victims are women, children, and medical workers. The toll on vulnerable groups has been particularly severe, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.

On March 12, the Israeli military expanded its forced evacuation orders for southern Lebanon residents – from the Litani River to north of the Zahrani River, about 40km (25 miles) north of the Israeli border. This expansion displaced thousands more, forcing families to flee again in a matter of days. Many of these residents had only recently returned from earlier displacement.

Overwhelmed Shelter Capacity

The massive displacement has overwhelmed the country’s shelter capacity. Many families are unable to find accommodation, spending nights in streets, vehicles, or public spaces as collective shelters reach maximum capacity. For many, this represents repeated trauma. The psychological and emotional toll on the population is growing with each passing day.

Between October 2023 and November 2024, amid cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon’s border villages suffered the worst of the violence. At its height, 899,725 people were forcibly displaced by Israeli forces back then. Most had returned by last October, only to be forced to flee again. The cycle of displacement has left many families in a state of limbo.

Israeli attacks during those 14 months inflicted extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. The World Bank estimated damage to residential buildings alone at approximately $2.8bn. About 99,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, preventing many families from returning even after the ceasefire. The long-term consequences of this destruction are still unfolding, with many residents unable to rebuild their lives.

The situation has drawn international attention, with calls for humanitarian aid and diplomatic intervention. However, the conflict shows no signs of abating, and the numbers of those displaced continue to rise. The Lebanese government has repeatedly appealed for a pause in the fighting to allow for the safe return of displaced families and the restoration of essential services.

As the conflict intensifies, the human cost continues to mount. With millions of people forced to flee their homes, the crisis in Lebanon is one of the most severe humanitarian challenges of the year. The international community faces mounting pressure to address the growing humanitarian needs in the region.