The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Israel’s military ground incursions into southern Lebanon
“Israel’s military ground incursions into southern Lebanon, blanket displacement orders for the population in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa region and the full area to the south of the Litani river, and its continued airstrikes on different parts of the country, are bringing more misery and suffering to an already weary civilian population,” the UN Human rights spokesperson said.
“These warnings and displacement orders issued for the south of Lebanon reportedly affected more than 100 towns and villages – home to tens of thousands of people, and risk affecting many more. In addition, on Thursday, the Israeli army urged the complete evacuation of almost the entire southern suburb of Beirut, creating fear and panic among residents, as well as the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon,” Shamdasani stated.
“In all, hundreds of thousands have now been affected by these Israeli displacement orders. Their breadth makes them very difficult for the population to comply with and therefore brings into question their effectiveness, a requirement under international humanitarian law, and risks amounting to prohibited forced displacement,” she added.
In an Israeli attack on 4 March, striking a residential building in Baalbek, at least eight people, including three girls and two women, were reportedly killed. Another strike on 5 March hit a building in Nabatyeh district, reportedly killing a family of four. The UN Human Rights Office called for pPrompt and thorough investigations must be conducted, particularly to determine whether such attacks complied with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions.
“Hezbollah has continued launching barrages of rockets into Israel, striking residential areas in the north and the centre of the country, with at least 3 people reportedly injured, raising concerns, once again, about indiscriminate attacks against civilians,” Shamdasani said.
“We urge the parties to step back from the brink of a major escalation of this conflict in Lebanon. We call instead for urgent de-escalation, compliance with their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701 and faithful application of the 2024 ceasefire arrangements. The sovereignty of Lebanon and the human rights of its people must be respected,” the spokesperson said.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan: +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights
STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Israel’s military ground incursions and displacement orders in Lebanon
TRT: 02:06
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 6 March 2026 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
- Interior shot: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson (OHCHR):“Israel’s military ground incursions into southern Lebanon, blanket displacement orders for the population in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa region and the full area to the south of the Litani river, and its continued airstrikes on different parts of the country, are bringing more misery and suffering to an already weary civilian population.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson (OHCHR): “These warnings and displacement orders issued for the south of Lebanon reportedly affected more than 100 towns and villages – home to tens of thousands of people, and risk affecting many more. In addition, on Thursday, the Israeli army urged the complete evacuation of almost the entire southern suburb of Beirut, creating fear and panic among residents, as well as the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson (OHCHR): “In all, hundreds of thousands have now been affected by these Israeli displacement orders. Their breadth makes them very difficult for the population to comply with and therefore brings into question their effectiveness, a requirement under international humanitarian law, and risks amounting to prohibited forced displacement.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson (OHCHR):“Hezbollah has continued launching barrages of rockets into Israel, striking residential areas in the north and the centre of the country, with at least three people reportedly injured, raising concerns, once again, about indiscriminate attacks against civilians.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Spokesperson (OHCHR): “We urge the parties to step back from the brink of a major escalation of this conflict in Lebanon. We call instead for urgent de-escalation, compliance with their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701 and faithful application of the 2024 ceasefire arrangements. The sovereignty of Lebanon and the human rights of its people must be respected.”
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Ukraine has sustained almost 2,000 attacks on education since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, with some 270 this year alone, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR
More than 280,000 people have now been displaced by fighting in Yemen and many vulnerable people are unable to access lifesaving relief because it is too dangerous to do so, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UN
Tour guides at UN Geneva turned heads at the Palace of Nations on Thursday as they unveiled stylish new uniforms, designed in partnership with leading Italian sustainable fashion designers and manufacturers.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WFP
Aid agencies warned on Friday of the fast-developing humanitarian emergency inside Taiz City in Yemen, which has been encircled by de facto Houthi forces fighting government troops along the country’s west coast.
2
17
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences , Images | OCHA , WMO
Two UN agencies teamed up on Wednesday to issue an appeal for immediate assistance to help communities already being impacted by the strongest El Niño on record.
3
16
2
2
Edited News , B-roll , Conferences , Images | UNITED NATIONS , UNOG
Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts for Sudan
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , UNHCR
Yemen war continues to force families from homes amid hunger and disease
More than 250,000 people have now fled renewed fighting in Yemen, the UN said on Tuesday, citing particular concern for those sheltering in the southwestern city of Taiz and the wider governorate, where access is “essentially blocked”.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
A little over one year since a ceasefire agreement was announced between Hamas fighters and Israel, more than 340 children have been reported killed and hundreds more injured, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , IFRC
Six weeks after Nepal’s deadly flooding disaster, communities are still struggling to rebuild their lives, but they will need sustained help as global warming increases the risk of another Himalayan catastrophe, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
In suspected Russia plague death, testing and monitoring underway – WHO
The death of a lab worker in Russia’s Siberia region has sparked concerns about plague being the cause, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, adding that it was following the situation closely.
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday provided and oral update to the 63rd session of the Human rights Council on Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday provided and oral update to the 63rd session of the Human rights Council on the human rights situation in Haiti.