WHO Representative in Lebanon Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar spoke to UN News from Beirut and said that Wednesday marked “one of the deadliest single days in the current escalation of violence” in the country. 

In just minutes, multiple strikes hit densely populated areas, including the capital, Beirut, in the middle of the working day. 

“In just 10 minutes, yesterday afternoon, explosions struck multiple locations, including densely populated civilian areas in the capital, Beirut,” he said, describing scenes of panic as civilians went about their daily lives without warning.

The attacks resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. “The interim assessment is reporting…over 200 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Among them, women and children,” Dr. Abubakar said, adding that first responders and healthcare workers were also among the dead and injured, with many victims still trapped beneath the rubble.

Reflecting on the scale of the attack, he described it as “horrific, very sad, is alarming”, recounting how he witnessed multiple strikes from his office in Beirut. “I could see in my window, actually, 10 different strikes in front of me, and buildings collapsing.”