BEIRUT – UN Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, said civilians are facing an intensifying wave of violence, displacement orders and human losses, as hostilities expand in areas including Tyre, Nabatieh and regions south of the Zahrani River.

In a statement, Riza expressed deep concern over the scale and ambiguity of evacuation orders, saying they have created widespread panic and forced thousands of families into difficult choices in search of safety.

He said field reports indicate that civilians have been injured while attempting to leave designated evacuation zones, while ongoing airstrikes and military activity have hindered emergency teams from reaching the wounded and those trapped under rubble.

Riza warned that continued displacement is worsening the humanitarian crisis despite expectations following a ceasefire announcement, noting that shelters have reached full capacity and that many schools are still being used to house displaced families, disrupting education.

He also raised concerns over threats to Lebanon’s cultural heritage, particularly in the coastal city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has been affected by ongoing hostilities.

The UN official relayed concerns from displaced families he met during a visit to Tyre, who called for an immediate reduction in escalation and a genuine cessation of hostilities to allow civilians to return home and begin rebuilding their lives.