Thousands seen fleeing southern Lebanon as schools canceled throughout country tomorrow

Lebanese media outlets report an exodus of thousands of Lebanese residents, mostly from the south, fleeing the area as Israeli bombardments intensify.

Photos and videos on social media show traffic jams and chaos on the country’s highways as people head north.

The National Committee for Crisis Response set up hotlines to direct people to the nearest available shelter in four parts of the country: the south, Beirut, the Beqaa valley, and Mount Lebanon, according to the national press agency NNA. So far, about 40 shelters have been established, mostly in schools, NNA reports.

Traffic jams have been reported in the coastal city of Sidon and around Beirut as people drive in from the south. Meanwhile, schools in these cities have closed early to prepare for the influx of displaced people, asking parents to pick up their children and adding to the chaos on the streets, “This is Beirut” reports.

Various social media users express criticism of those fleeing southern Lebanon, Hezbollah’s birthplace and stronghold, saying that they are the ones who helped Hezbollah come to power and should face the consequences.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese education ministry announces that classes tomorrow in all schools throughout the country are canceled.

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