UN doubles appeal for Lebanon aid to nearly $640m amid Israel war

GENEVA, Jun 5: The UN on Friday more than doubled its aid appeal for Lebanon as the country reels from Israel's war against Iran-backed Hezbollah, saying nearly $640 million was needed over six months.

Three months into the war, the United Nations warned that a "humanitarian catastrophe" was looming in Lebanon, with a quarter of its population needing aid.

"Communities across Lebanon have faced an appalling situation due to the escalation of hostilities," Imran Riza, the UN's resident humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Beirut.

He said Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people and injured over 10,000 others since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the wider Middle East war on March 2, firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader.    �"AFP