Lebanon: MSF warns of deadly conditions in southern Lebanon as strikes hit Nabatiyeh
Israeli strikes in Nabatiyeh kill upwards of 50 people, wound 97 and hinder rescue efforts
New escalating Israeli attacks and bombardment across Nabatiyeh governorate in southern Lebanon have killed more than 50 people and injured at least 97, according to the Ministry of Public Health, with numbers rapidly increasing.
Pierre Boulet-Desbareau, emergency coordinator
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns of deadly conditions in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, and calls for the immediate protection of civilians and medical and rescue workers as relentless Israeli attacks hit the governorate.
In recent days, upwards of 50 people have been killed and 97 wounded during a drastic escalation in attacks across the governate. MSF’s team at Najdeh Al-Shaabiyeh (Chaabiyeh) hospital is responding to an influx of patients of all ages, including paramedics wounded during rescue missions. People are arriving with severe head injuries, heavy bleeding, shrapnel injuries and in need of amputations, while others are suspected to be trapped under rubble as bombardment continues.
On June 18, our teams witnessed people returning to their towns in Nabatiyeh governorate and searching through the rubble of their destroyed homes. They had gone back in the hopes that it might finally be safe. Instead, many are now once again trapped under bombardment.
Meanwhile, search and rescue and ambulance teams MSF supports and works closely with are unable to reach some of the wounded people or evacuate some civilians because moving through the area is simply too dangerous and because responders have repeatedly been put at risk of coming under Israeli fire while doing their job.
The ongoing situation in Nabatiyeh is devastating. What our teams are describing resembles a death trap. People are caught under heavy shelling, while rescue teams are unable to safely reach them. Civilians and first responders must be protected and unhindered access for rescue teams is urgently needed.
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