United Nations independent experts have warned that escalating Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders in Lebanon have displaced more than 700,000 people since early March, including around 200,000 children. Entire communities in more than 100 southern villages have been affected, with families fleeing bombardment and seeking shelter in overcrowded schools, public buildings, cars and along roadsides.

The experts stressed that civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted and that issuing evacuation warnings does not relieve parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They cautioned that when homes and essential services are destroyed, displacement can become a prolonged human rights crisis rather than a temporary safety measure.

Describing the bombardment as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, the experts warned that forced displacement could amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. They called for an immediate halt to the attacks, an international investigation, full humanitarian access and accountability, warning that without urgent support the crisis could deteriorate into a full-scale humanitarian emergency.