Ground Report: Displaced Lebanese see no end to conflict amid Israeli bombing

Over 30 lakh Lebanese citizens have been internally displaced as Israel continues to pound many cities, including the capital, Beirut. Amid growing fears of escalation, the displaced–mostly women and children–are living in various relief camps, relying on charity for food and shelter.
As the Israeli military intensifies its offensive against Hezbollah, it has ordered residents of more than 20 southern Lebanese villages to evacuate immediately. India Today visited relief camps in southern Beirut, which is still experiencing heavy bombardment.
Several schools and colleges have been converted into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. While the sound of bombings unsettles the children, the residents say they have become accustomed to it.
“The small children, yes, they are afraid, but we are used to it. We’ve lived on the border with an enemy, and we have no human rights. They don’t care about children or families,” a Lebanese citizen told India Today when asked if there was any sense of fear.
He left his village near the Israeli border and is now living in a camp in southern Beirut.
“They are bombing houses, claiming there are arms and ammunition stored there. But there is nothing. We left our village for the safety of women and children,” said the Lebanese man, who is in his 50s.
His camp serves food to around 500 people, and the supplies are provided by what he describes as a “civilian resistance group”.

Another citizen, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The situation is not very good. You can see scores of people leaving their homes in Beirut. We now depend on charity for food and blankets.”
When asked how hopeful he was for a quick end to the conflict, he replied, “We don’t know. It may take a long time because there’s no solution in sight”.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants erupted one year ago when the Iranian-backed group began launching rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. It has intensified in recent weeks, with Israeli bombings killing many of Hezbollah’s top leaders and sending ground troops across the border. The death toll in the latest wave of attacks has crossed 2,300, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.