UNHCR: Any Further Escalation in Gaza "Catastrophic"

On Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that any other military escalation in Gaza will be "catastrophic."

Grandi told reporters in Japan:"[I] can tell you with certainty that any further escalation or even continuation of military activities will just be catastrophic for the people of Gaza."

Grandi highlighted that he "shares the extreme worry and anguish that has been expressed by many of my colleagues including the UN secretary-general" about the ongoing development.

He also commented on the situation of Lebanon in the current escalations, saying: "Lebanon is in a very deep political and economic crisis itself. Lebanon hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees; Syrian refugees and Palestinian refugees."

"So if God forbid Lebanon were to be engulfed in this war, the humanitarian consequences will be incalculable."

"Let us not forget that we have other situations that are not resolved in the vicinity. The Syria conflict for example. Iraq remains very fragile. Egypt has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees from Sudan, another conflict on its borders."