UN experts warn of mass displacement and civilian deaths in southern Lebanon

UN human‑rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council have warned that the Israeli war on Lebanon has caused a “devastating and disproportionate toll” on civilians. Since the escalation on 2 March 2026, more than 4,300 people have been killed, including at least 392 women and 253 children, and over 12,000 have been injured.

Around 620,000 women and girls have been displaced, with roughly 16,000 pregnant women giving birth in overcrowded shelters after maternity services were damaged or closed. Experts highlighted the use of white‑phosphorus munitions in residential areas, exposing civilians, especially children and pregnant women, to severe burns and respiratory injuries.

The experts stressed that evacuation must be a temporary measure to protect civilians, not a tool for depopulation, and called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and allow displaced persons to return home safely once the conditions that caused the displacement cease.