UNHCR reports over 200,000 people, mostly Syrians, have crossed from Lebanon into Syria in March as Israel-Hezbollah fighting intensifies.

GENEVA: More than 200,000 people have fled Lebanon for Syria since fighting resumed a month ago between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

The United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) provided the figures on Tuesday.

“Nearly a month after hostilities intensified in Lebanon, Syria has seen a sharp rise in people crossing the border from Lebanon,” said UNHCR’s interim representative in Syria, Aseer al-Madaien.

She stated that between March 2 and 27, more than 200,000 people entered Syria through three official crossing points.

“The vast majority — nearly 180,000 — are Syrians, including Syrian refugees who had fled Syria seeking safety in the past in Lebanon and (are) now forced to flee again,” she added.

More than 28,000 Lebanese nationals have also crossed into Syria.

The figures were provided by Syrian authorities and confirmed by UNHCR officials on the ground.

Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East conflict in early March following Israeli-US strikes.

The strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Tehran-backed Hezbollah to fire rockets at Israel.

Israel has since struck targets across Lebanon and sent ground troops into its neighbour’s territory.

Lebanese authorities report that more than 1,200 people have been killed in the conflict.

 The Sun Malaysia