Lebanon Flash Update No. 8 was published on 13 March 2026 by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Lebanon Office, in collaboration with the Inter-Sector Coordination Group under the 2026 Lebanon Response Plan framework. The report provides an updated overview of the humanitarian consequences of the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon during 12-13 March, with particular attention to rising civilian casualties, attacks on healthcare, infrastructure damage, displacement pressures, and the launch of the 2026 Lebanon Flash Appeal. It aims to inform urgent response priorities and mobilize greater international support.
Key insights:
By 13 March, the number of self-registered displaced people had risen to more than 830,000, with around 130,000 people accommodated in over 600 collective shelters, while many others continued to sleep in streets, vehicles, and open public spaces due to insufficient shelter capacity.
The Ministry of Public Health reported 139 deaths and 347 injuries during 12-13 March alone, bringing the cumulative toll since 2 March to 773 fatalities and 1,933 injuries.
Attacks on the health sector continued to intensify, with 18 healthcare workers killed, 48 injured, and 26 attacks on healthcare reported, further undermining emergency response capacity.
Damage to civilian infrastructure, including the destruction of a bridge in Tarfylsay and damage to roads in Khardali and Dibbin, raised concerns about civilian mobility and humanitarian access between areas north and south of the Litani River.
On 13 March, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Lebanon and jointly launched the 2026 Lebanon Flash Appeal, which called for US$308.3 million to support up to one million people over three months.
