ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq has received approximately 1,500 people from Lebanon through the al-Qaim border crossing with Syria since the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah two weeks ago, an Iraqi Red Crescent Society official said on Saturday. Ali Majeed, head of the health department for the Iraqi organization, told Rudaw that among the displaced Lebanese nationals were “tens of the cases of injury, with six of them being released [from hospital] after receiving primary health care and first aid services.” The Iraqi Red Crescent Society has also provided humanitarian aid to Lebanon through air and ground since the latest conflict began two weeks ago, according to Majeed. Around 5,000 Lebanese people have been displaced to Iraq since Israel struck southern Lebanon late last month, according to Iraqi state media, citing official data. Baghdad has facilitated travel for people from Lebanon who want to come to Iraq. The Iraqi government has opened bank accounts to receive donations from citizens, companies, and businessmen for those who can help the Lebanese people. “These accounts will be subject to ongoing audits by the Federal Board of Supreme Audit to ensure transparency,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s media office said on Thursday. Last week, Sudani ordered Iraq’s interior ministry to issue expedited travel documents for Lebanese citizens without a passport who wish to enter Iraq. Majeed detailed that the Iraqi Red Crescent has delivered tons of food and medicine to Lebanon. Since Israel’s attacks began, an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said at a press conference on September 24, adding the country is experiencing the "largest wave of displacement in its history." Lebanon has been hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in addition to 13,715 refugees of other nationalities. The UN on Monday, citing Lebanese officials, reported more than 1,600 people have been killed and 8,000 wounded in Lebanon by Israeli bombardments since October 2023. The conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, and Israel has intensified since October 7, when Palestinian Hamas militants launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a massive ongoing offensive on Gaza, killing over 41,600 people and injuring more than 96,400, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Mushtaq Ramadhan contributed to this article.
