People fleeing Israeli bombardment in Lebanon on foot in the area of Masnaa on the country's side of the border crossing with Syria, on October 4, 2024.   (Photo > AFP)

Geneva, October 6 (RHC)-- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi says Israel’s devastating airstrikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut have displaced about 20,000 Palestinian refugees in the country.  After visiting displaced families sheltering in schools in Beirut, Filippo took to social media platform X on Sunday, calling for a "desperately needed ceasefire" in Lebanon.

“What they need most is for air strikes to stop so they can return to their homes safely.”  Grandi urged the international community to "step up humanitarian support to those in need.”

The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it opened emergency shelters for more than 4,300 displaced people and is ready to open more.

Shelters are filling up fast, the UNRWA said, as the Israeli military intensifies its attacks on Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say over 1.2 million people have been displaced since Israel started its invasion of Lebanon on September 23. Over 200,000 people have arrived in Syria from Lebanon ever since, according to Grandi.  On Friday, Israeli strikes sealed off Lebanon's main border crossing with Syria, blocking the way for vehicles.  The UNHCR said that some refugees were crossing the border on foot.

Israel’s savage war on the Gaza Strip has also internally displaced about 1.9 million people, or 90 percent of the population in the besieged narrow strip.