The UN refugee agency has confirmed the tragic death of a staff member, Dina Darwiche, and one of her children due to an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon. This incident is part of a larger wave of over a thousand airstrikes that have occurred in the region over the past two days.
Darwiche’s residence was struck on Monday, resulting in severe injuries to her husband and older son, who are currently hospitalized. She dedicated 12 years of service to the UNHCR’s Bekaa office. Another UNHCR employee, Ali Basma, a cleaner at the agency’s Tyre office, also lost his life in the airstrikes.
Filippo Grandi, the UNHCR’s global director, expressed outrage and sorrow over the killings, highlighting the civilian toll of the ongoing airstrikes. “Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon are now relentlessly claiming hundreds of civilian lives,” he stated.
Describing Darwiche as “the gentlest and kindest soul,” friends and colleagues mourned her loss, reflecting on her commitment to humanitarian work. Funerals for victims of the airstrikes have been taking place throughout Lebanon, with emotional scenes of mourning evident in various cities.
In Sidon, a grieving father, Mohammed Hilal, attended the funeral of his daughter, along with eight others, including three members of Hezbollah. Hilal recounted the heartbreaking moment he found his daughter after returning from identifying family members who had been victims of the airstrikes, denouncing the violence as “brutal” and “cowardly.”
Israeli authorities have claimed they issued warnings for civilians to evacuate homes near suspected Hezbollah sites, but Lebanon’s health minister has condemned the airstrikes, asserting that many victims were innocent civilians, including women and children engaged in daily activities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the continuation of strikes against Hezbollah, accusing the group of using civilian infrastructure to conceal weapons. He emphasized, “Anyone who has a missile in their living room will not have a home.”
Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes due to the conflict, with many leaving with little more than their cars. UNICEF officials noted that children in shelters are facing severe trauma, having witnessed violence and loss firsthand.
