The recent escalation of conflict in Lebanon has led to a major humanitarian crisis, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Syria to escape Israeli airstrikes.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), this mass exodus includes both Lebanese and Syrian nationals. The agency is currently operating at four crossing points alongside local authorities and the Syrian Red Crescent to support the new arrivals.

Filippo Grandi, the chief of UNHCR, highlighted the severity of the situation in a post on X, stating, "The number of people who have crossed into Syria from Lebanon fleeing Israeli airstrikes – Lebanese and Syrian nationals – has reached 100,000. The outflow continues."

The conflict has intensified as Israel shifts its focus from Gaza to its northern frontier, engaging in nearly daily crossfire with Hezbollah. The Israeli military's operations aim to allow the return of tens of thousands of Israeli civilians to their homes in northern Israel. However, these operations have resulted in massive casualties and destruction, with more than 700 people killed in the last week alone.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati recently stated that Israeli air raids might have already forced a million people to leave their homes, marking the worst displacement in the country's history. The International Organization for Migration has mapped 200,000 of those displaced.

The situation at the border is dire, with long lines of buses and cars extending for several kilometers. Many families are making the journey on foot, waiting hours to be processed by overwhelmed border officials.

Relief workers are providing essential supplies such as food, water, mattresses, and blankets to those in need. Rula Amin, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, noted, "Many will have to spend the night outdoors waiting their turn."

This mass displacement is a stark reversal of fortunes, given that Lebanon has been hosting over one million Syrian refugees since the civil war in Syria began in 2011. The current crisis has seen many of these refugees returning to Syria, despite the ongoing conflict there.

Emad al-Salim, a returning refugee, described the harrowing journey, stating, "There were houses destroyed in front of me as we were coming out. It took us three days to get here."

The humanitarian response is further complicated by the economic challenges in Syria. At the border, Syrian citizens are required to change $100 to Syrian pounds before entering, a measure aimed at propping up the local currency. However, the sudden spike in demand has led to a shortage of Syrian pounds at the border.