In an exclusive interview, Nasser Yassin, Lebanon’s Minister of Crisis Management, addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from escalating violence in the region. On October 22, he stated that Lebanon requires over $250 million monthly to assist 1.3 million people displaced by Israeli attacks. These individuals are currently seeking refuge in public buildings or with relatives, while governmental responses are unfortunately meeting only 20% of their needs, largely supported by NGO and international aid.
Yassin highlighted the alarming reality of the situation: “With waves of airstrikes occurring daily, an increasing number of people are being forced to leave their homes. We anticipate that the demand for assistance will continue to rise. This is why we need $250 million each month to address their basic needs in terms of food, hygiene, and education services.”
In a bid to alleviate the suffering, various facilities, including schools, old slaughterhouses, fresh markets, and vacant buildings, have been converted into makeshift shelters. “We are repurposing everything, transforming all public structures… there is still much work to be done,” Yassin added.
The minister warned that if the number of displaced individuals continues to grow, the likelihood of illegal immigration into Europe may increase significantly. Before the outbreak of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Yassin was serving as the Minister of Environment, focusing on wildfire prevention, but now his time is predominantly spent working with a crisis management team at the government headquarters.
This crisis management team includes members from various Lebanese ministries, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Lebanese Red Cross. They are currently planning a relief operation expected to last four to six months, but Yassin expressed a strong desire for an early resolution to the war.
As France prepares to hold an international meeting on the Lebanese crisis on October 24, Yassin revealed his intentions to emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire. “We need every member of the international community to stand up and take a stance—at least this time… One UN member state is conducting war against a small nation using the most aggressive tactics ever seen in Lebanon’s history. This is the message we need to convey,” he underscored.
According to reports from Central News Agency, the Israeli military announced on October 23 that in the past 48 hours, three Hezbollah commanders and approximately 70 militants were killed in southern Lebanon. The day prior, they confirmed the death of Hashem Safieddine, a likely successor to the recently slain Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated, “Our forces continue to carry out limited, localized, and targeted strikes against the infrastructure and personnel of Hezbollah terrorists.” The IDF reported that around 70 militants were eliminated through both ground and air assaults in just one day.
As the situation escalates, the Lebanese government confirmed on October 22 that the Israeli offensive has left at least 1.3 million people displaced and resulted in 2,530 casualties, with at least 63 fatalities occurring within the past 24 hours.
