04:46Nasser Yassin, the Lebanese minister of the environment and head of the country's emergency committee, described the current situation facing his country as 'one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world', speaking from Beirut on Monday.
"Our estimations suggest that the displacement rate over the past days soared to 1 million," he said. "This is a colossal rate that constitutes one of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."
"The number of sheltering centres we opened in the operations room in co-ordination with Ministries of Education, Social Affairs and Interior, has exceeded 850," he continued. "What Lebanon faces now is like an earthquake because of this aggression which through its relentless airstrikes and ensuing devastation pressures people to flee their homes."
He explained that the National Operations Room was convened last Monday, when Israel's campaign of airstrikes on the country began, including "representatives of all international humanitarian organisations in 10 fields covering shelter, food, hygiene necessities, water."
Yassin also claimed that the airport was "still functional and passenger flights are underway" although there were no incoming flights.
Airstrikes continued on Monday, as Israel reportedly considered a ground incursion into southern Lebanon. The latest wave of attacks on Hezbollah targets began a week ago, while the Lebanese Health Ministry reported 1,030 deaths and over 6,300 injuries in total. Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets into northern Israel.
Tensions have been heightened following mass pager and handheld radio explosions, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border strikes since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza.
'One of largest humanitarian crises in the world' - Lebanon minister reports 'one million people' fleeing Israeli strikes
Nasser Yassin, the Lebanese minister of the environment and head of the country's emergency committee, described the current situation facing his country as 'one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world', speaking from Beirut on Monday.
"Our estimations suggest that the displacement rate over the past days soared to 1 million," he said. "This is a colossal rate that constitutes one of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."
"The number of sheltering centres we opened in the operations room in co-ordination with Ministries of Education, Social Affairs and Interior, has exceeded 850," he continued. "What Lebanon faces now is like an earthquake because of this aggression which through its relentless airstrikes and ensuing devastation pressures people to flee their homes."
He explained that the National Operations Room was convened last Monday, when Israel's campaign of airstrikes on the country began, including "representatives of all international humanitarian organisations in 10 fields covering shelter, food, hygiene necessities, water."
Yassin also claimed that the airport was "still functional and passenger flights are underway" although there were no incoming flights.
Airstrikes continued on Monday, as Israel reportedly considered a ground incursion into southern Lebanon. The latest wave of attacks on Hezbollah targets began a week ago, while the Lebanese Health Ministry reported 1,030 deaths and over 6,300 injuries in total. Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets into northern Israel.
Tensions have been heightened following mass pager and handheld radio explosions, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border strikes since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza.
Nasser Yassin, the Lebanese minister of the environment and head of the country's emergency committee, described the current situation facing his country as 'one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world', speaking from Beirut on Monday.
"Our estimations suggest that the displacement rate over the past days soared to 1 million," he said. "This is a colossal rate that constitutes one of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."
"The number of sheltering centres we opened in the operations room in co-ordination with Ministries of Education, Social Affairs and Interior, has exceeded 850," he continued. "What Lebanon faces now is like an earthquake because of this aggression which through its relentless airstrikes and ensuing devastation pressures people to flee their homes."
He explained that the National Operations Room was convened last Monday, when Israel's campaign of airstrikes on the country began, including "representatives of all international humanitarian organisations in 10 fields covering shelter, food, hygiene necessities, water."
Yassin also claimed that the airport was "still functional and passenger flights are underway" although there were no incoming flights.
Airstrikes continued on Monday, as Israel reportedly considered a ground incursion into southern Lebanon. The latest wave of attacks on Hezbollah targets began a week ago, while the Lebanese Health Ministry reported 1,030 deaths and over 6,300 injuries in total. Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets into northern Israel.
Tensions have been heightened following mass pager and handheld radio explosions, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border strikes since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza.