The UN calls for the expansion of humanitarian operations in the Middle East

April 10, 2026 World and Security

According to the UVKB data, only on April 8, within ten minutes without warning, there wasabout 100 objects have been hit, including densely populated areas of Beirut, where thousands of displaced persons have already settled. According to information from the Ministry of Health of Lebanon, as a result of the recent strikes, more than 300 people have died, over 1,150 have been injured. The death toll may increase as search and rescue operations continue.

People who have already fled from Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and from the south of the country have again been forced to leave their shelters – sometimes for the second or third time. Even areas considered safe have come under attack. Rescue services are facing serious difficulties due to destruction and road closures, and hospitals report an enormous burden and a shortage of blood for transfusions.

For many families, returning to the southern regions has become impossible, as entire settlements have been partially or completely destroyed. According to estimates, about 150 thousand people still remain in the south of Lebanon, while humanitarian aid deliveries are limited.

Support for the victim

Humanitarian needs are rapidly growing: more than 680 temporary shelters, housing about 140,000 people, are overcrowded. Almost half of the state schools are being used as shelters, which deprives children of the opportunity to study.

Despite the difficulties, UVKB and its partners continue to assist those affected, including the distribution of essential items, emergency housing repairs, and protection services. More than 151,000 people have already received support in collective accommodation centers, and 31,000 in hard-to-reach areas of Lebanon.

The UNHCR emphasized that every fifth resident of Lebanon is now a displaced person, while the agency has received only 20 percent of the required funding. Moreover, more than 250,000 people crossed the border from Syria, including 39,000 Lebanese citizens. Under these circumstances, urgent international support is extremely necessary and, above all, a cessation of hostilities.

Food crisis

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) is also providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of people against the backdrop of growing humanitarian needs in the Middle East. The WFP welcomed the declared two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but warned that the situation remains extremely unstable. Risks related to humanitarian access and supply chains, especially on key maritime routes, are unfolding.

According to UN agency data, in Lebanon as of April 9, about 440 thousand displaced persons received food and cash assistance. At the border crossing to Syria, emergency food kits were provided to approximately 85 thousand people, and in Iran, about 33,500 refugees living in camps received assistance.

At the same time, most requests for conducting humanitarian missions in the southern region of Lebanon are either rejected or remain unanswered, which significantly limits the delivery of aid.

Price growth for food products

Against the backdrop of the conflict, food prices are rising in a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Supply disruptions and access restrictions continueto exert pressure on markets.

In the Gaza sector, the cost of the food basket increased by 22 percent by the end of March, and the prices of wheat flour more than doubled. In Syria and Lebanon, price increases of 8 and 7.5 percent respectively were also recorded, which is associated with the consequences of regional instability and the increase in import costs.

WFP warns that these factors undermine the population’s purchasing power and limit access to food products, especially for the most vulnerable families. According to the agency’s estimates, if the situation does not improve, the global crisis could result in up to 45 million more people facing acute food insecurity.

The status of women and girls

The structure of “UN Women” warns about the devastating impact of the conflict on women and girls throughout the Middle East. Since the beginning of the escalation on February 28, indicators of mortality, population displacement, and humanitarian needs have sharply increased.

Despite the declared ceasefire between the USA and Iran, hundreds of women and girls have already died in various countries of the region, and millions were forced to leave their homes. Overcrowded shelters and limited access to water and sanitation increase the risks of violence, while reduced access to medical care, protection, and survival means exacerbates the crisis.

The food situation is worsening: according to estimates, about 24 million women and girls in the region are facing food insecurity due to rising prices, supply disruptions, and decreased purchasing power.

The “UN Women” structure welcomed the temporary ceasefire, but emphasized the necessity of achieving a lasting peace, calling for the protection of the civilian population, unhindered access to humanitarian aid, and support for initiatives led by women.