Rising Toll of Martyrs and Injured Amidst Increasing Displacement
25 أيلول 2024 19:00
The government emergency plan coordinator, Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, held a press conference at the Grand Serail where he revealed that there have been 1,247 martyrs and 5,278 injured, most of whom are civilians, including children and women.
In an update on the situation regarding the needs of the displaced, he stated that the number of displaced individuals in shelters has reached 52,900, distributed across 360 centers, most of which are educational institutions and public schools. He estimated that the number of displaced individuals in shelters represents about 30 percent of the total population that has been displaced, and the number of displaced individuals from Lebanese areas, especially in the south and the Beqaa, is now estimated to exceed 150,000.
Yassin emphasized that response efforts to meet the needs of the displaced continue in coordination with regional operations rooms through governors, district heads, and municipal unions. The High Relief Commission is also making efforts to secure essential supplies, while noting the significant challenges, particularly in securing mattresses and blankets due to a market shortage and the unfortunate hoarding by some. He stated that they have begun addressing this issue with the Ministry of Economy to stop the hoarding and rising prices.
He added, "The partner humanitarian organizations, through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and all partner organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Program, UNDP, Save the Children, and others, have activated the distribution of all urgent humanitarian assistance. They have stockpiled over 58,000 food parcels sufficient for a family for a month, 40,000 mattresses and blankets, and 64,000 personal hygiene kits, and they have started distributing these in all areas. However, logistical matters take time to reach, especially since our displaced people are now spread from Wadi Khaled, Akkar, and all the way to Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the Western Bekaa, Zahle, Matn, Chouf, and Aley. The needs are significant regarding basic necessities like mattresses and blankets, which poses a challenge as I mentioned due to the hoarding we are addressing with the Ministry of Economy."
Yassin continued, "I would like to note that we have been working today with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Secretary-General, Mr. Shumaitli, and with the Foreign Minister who is currently in New York to request that Lebanon's ambassadors abroad, after being provided with information and data, convey the humanitarian situation and the consequences of the aggressions and crimes being perpetrated by the Israeli enemy, and to urge the countries they are in to support the diplomatic efforts being made by Prime Minister Mikati in New York to achieve a ceasefire and to encourage them to increase support for urgent humanitarian needs."
He stated, "We estimate that in the past 72 hours, more than 150,000 people have left their lands and towns due to the shelling and massacres."
In response to a question about measures to address hoarding, he said, "Regarding mattresses, three days ago, the Relief Commission requested thousands of mattresses at an estimated price of about $10 each, but the price has skyrocketed to between $20 and $30 in some places, which is a crime against our people whom we are supposed to serve. I am not saying we will not pay for the mattresses, but the profit must be reasonable and logical. We have communicated with the Minister of Economy and the Director-General of Economy to activate the Consumer Protection Department's work, and the Minister of Industry has been following up since this morning with manufacturers and the Industrialists Association to increase mattress production and secure them for the Relief Commission and the organizations working on the response."
In response to a question about cooperation with other countries to send aid, he said, "We have communicated with sister Arab countries that have expressed their readiness and are being provided with lists of urgent needs. Soon we will see aid arriving from Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and other sister countries. We are racing against time as tens of thousands of people are moving to shelters."
In an update on the situation regarding the needs of the displaced, he stated that the number of displaced individuals in shelters has reached 52,900, distributed across 360 centers, most of which are educational institutions and public schools. He estimated that the number of displaced individuals in shelters represents about 30 percent of the total population that has been displaced, and the number of displaced individuals from Lebanese areas, especially in the south and the Beqaa, is now estimated to exceed 150,000.
Yassin emphasized that response efforts to meet the needs of the displaced continue in coordination with regional operations rooms through governors, district heads, and municipal unions. The High Relief Commission is also making efforts to secure essential supplies, while noting the significant challenges, particularly in securing mattresses and blankets due to a market shortage and the unfortunate hoarding by some. He stated that they have begun addressing this issue with the Ministry of Economy to stop the hoarding and rising prices.
He added, "The partner humanitarian organizations, through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and all partner organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Program, UNDP, Save the Children, and others, have activated the distribution of all urgent humanitarian assistance. They have stockpiled over 58,000 food parcels sufficient for a family for a month, 40,000 mattresses and blankets, and 64,000 personal hygiene kits, and they have started distributing these in all areas. However, logistical matters take time to reach, especially since our displaced people are now spread from Wadi Khaled, Akkar, and all the way to Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the Western Bekaa, Zahle, Matn, Chouf, and Aley. The needs are significant regarding basic necessities like mattresses and blankets, which poses a challenge as I mentioned due to the hoarding we are addressing with the Ministry of Economy."
Yassin continued, "I would like to note that we have been working today with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Secretary-General, Mr. Shumaitli, and with the Foreign Minister who is currently in New York to request that Lebanon's ambassadors abroad, after being provided with information and data, convey the humanitarian situation and the consequences of the aggressions and crimes being perpetrated by the Israeli enemy, and to urge the countries they are in to support the diplomatic efforts being made by Prime Minister Mikati in New York to achieve a ceasefire and to encourage them to increase support for urgent humanitarian needs."
He stated, "We estimate that in the past 72 hours, more than 150,000 people have left their lands and towns due to the shelling and massacres."
In response to a question about measures to address hoarding, he said, "Regarding mattresses, three days ago, the Relief Commission requested thousands of mattresses at an estimated price of about $10 each, but the price has skyrocketed to between $20 and $30 in some places, which is a crime against our people whom we are supposed to serve. I am not saying we will not pay for the mattresses, but the profit must be reasonable and logical. We have communicated with the Minister of Economy and the Director-General of Economy to activate the Consumer Protection Department's work, and the Minister of Industry has been following up since this morning with manufacturers and the Industrialists Association to increase mattress production and secure them for the Relief Commission and the organizations working on the response."
In response to a question about cooperation with other countries to send aid, he said, "We have communicated with sister Arab countries that have expressed their readiness and are being provided with lists of urgent needs. Soon we will see aid arriving from Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and other sister countries. We are racing against time as tens of thousands of people are moving to shelters."