GENEVA —Responding to the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the United Nations and the Lebanese government launched a $426 million flash appeal Tuesday to provide emergency assistance to support 1 million people directly affected by the rapidly escalating conflict in Lebanon.

"In just the past two weeks, more than 1,000 people have lost their lives, over 6,000 have been injured, and an estimated 1 million people have been directly affected or displaced since October 2023," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, told journalists in Geneva.

"I want to add that you will have seen in recent hours the reports of the beginning of an Israeli ground offensive in southern Lebanon," he said. "We are deeply concerned about this development. We urge all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law and engage in immediate de-escalation to prevent further loss of life and to prevent further suffering."

He said the U.N. and nongovernmental organizations already are providing food, nutrition for children, water and other basic supplies needed for "peoples' survival and well-being," but the humanitarian response is insufficient to deal with the overwhelming and growing humanitarian needs.

"This appeal aims to rapidly reinforce and scale up these essential services in support of the government-led response," Laerke said, adding that there was little time to lose.

Israel launched its ground invasion against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon Tuesday morning, describing it as a "limited, localized and targeted" operation. The action follows the detonation by Israel two weeks ago of thousands of pagers that killed many people, injured thousands and decimated Hezbollah's leadership - raising the low simmering conflict in Lebanon to a higher, more dangerous level.

"We are gravely concerned by the widening hostilities in the Middle East and their potential to engulf the entire region in a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe," said Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

She warned that further deterioration of the situation "could rapidly expand to embroil other states in the region.

"With armed violence between Israel and Hezbollah boiling over, the consequences for civilians have already been terrible," she said. "We fear a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would only result in greater suffering."

Throssell underscored the dangers of further escalation, noting that the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah "has sent shock waves reverberating around the region."

"I think what we have seen unfolding in recent days has added to our concerns," especially on the impact "of innocent children, women and men from hostilities," she said.

"All parties to these conflicts must clearly distinguish between military targets and civilians and civilian objects in the way they conduct hostilities," she said, adding that the warring parties must do all they can "to protect the lives of civilians," as well as their homes and essential infrastructure.

Israel has said the offensive will continue until Hezbollah stops firing rockets at Israel and it is safe for families to return to the homes they abandoned near the Lebanon border.

For Cristhian Cortez, head of delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Lebanon, the war raging in his country is not just a matter of statistics. It is personal.

"Just a few days ago, my wife's brother was killed in the line of duty while rescuing others. He served with dedication in the Lebanese Civil Defense. ... He leaves behind his wife and three young children, and like thousands of other Lebanese, they now face the hardships of the displacement," he said.

Speaking from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, he told journalists that his brother-in-law's death was not just a personal loss for his family but one of "a heartbreaking list of Lebanese humanitarian workers and civilians who have tragically lost their lives in the recent escalation."

"His is just one of millions of stories of fear and trauma," Cortez said.

He spelled out the immense challenges facing the Lebanese Red Cross, "which has been at the front line of the emergency response from the first day."

He said the Lebanese Red Cross is facing shortages of medical supplies, ambulances and fuel, noting that the IFRCs $65 million appeal is only 12% covered.

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