News Center – With Israeli attacks continuing despite the ceasefire, the repercussion of the war is worsening as casuatias rise and displacement waves expand, while vital infrastructure – including roads, hospitals, and cultural sites – suffers extensive damage.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon expressed concern yesterday, Friday, May 29, over the escalation of hostilities and the repercussions of evacuation orders affecting local communities across Lebanon, including Tyre, Nabatieh, and other areas south of the Zahrani River.

He noted that civilians across the country have faced a horrific escalation of violence, displacement, and human losses in recent days, stressing that the wide scope and lack of clarity of evacuation orders are causing disproportionate panic and suffering, driving countless families to make impossible choices in their search for safety.

Field reports indicate shocking incidents: civilians were harmed during airstrikes while trying to leave areas covered by evacuation orders. The reports also noted that continued hostilities have hindered rescue efforts from reaching the wounded and providing assistance, including people trapped under rubble following Israeli airstrikes.

The UN coordinator said that at least 31 people, including women and children, were killed and 40 others injured on May 26 alone. This includes the killing of 14 people in a single airstrike that targeted the town of Burj al‑Shamali near Tyre. During the same week, 15 children were killed and 62 others injured as a result of the ongoing escalation.

Serious threat to heritage

UNESCO expressed grave concern over the confirmed damage to Chamaa Castle, in addition to reports of attacks in the vicinity of Beaufort Castle – both sites provisionally listed under enhanced protection under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

It also expressed concern over the state of conservation of the city of Tyre, inscribed on the World Heritage List and also subject to enhanced protection, given recent worrying developments that could put the site at risk of further damage or potential looting.

UNESCO condemned illegal attacks on cultural property, affirming that these sites enjoy the highest level of legal protection against attacks and military use, warning that damaging these institutions deprives communities of access to culture and shared spaces essential for recovery and social cohesion.

The organization stated that it will continue to work with Lebanese authorities to assess damage to cultural institutions and enhance urgent protection measures within its mandate.

New victims

On the ground, Israeli airstrikes on three areas in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon yesterday, Friday, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including a paramedic and a Syrian citizen, in addition to injuring eight others, including another paramedic, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The ministry affirmed that these strikes constitute a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which guarantees the protection of medical teams," despite the announced ceasefire agreement with Israel.

In a new toll, the ministry said the number of victims of the ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 3,355 killed and 10,095 wounded.