GENEVA

More than 200,000 people crossed into Syria from Lebanon within a month of intensified hostilities following Israeli attacks, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.

The UNHCR acting representative in Syria, Aseer Al-Madaien, said at a press briefing in Geneva that the influx took place between March 2 and 27, citing Syrian authorities.

Nearly 180,000 of those arriving were Syrians, she said, including refugees forced to flee Lebanon once again, while more than 28,000 Lebanese nationals also crossed the border.

"Most are people fleeing the intense Israeli bombardment," she said, adding many arrivals were exhausted and traumatized after fleeing with few belongings.

Border crossings at Masnaa–Jdeidet Yabous and Al Qaa–Joussieh saw the heaviest movement, while crossings through Arida remained limited due to infrastructure damage, she said.

Al-Madaien said immediate needs among arrivals include food, shelter, healthcare and civil documentation, as many returnees face uncertain conditions inside Syria.

She added that UNHCR has scaled up assistance, but operations in Syria remain critically underfunded, with less than 30% of required funding — nearly $324 million — secured for 2026.

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

Lebanese authorities said at least 1,247 people have since been killed and 3,690 injured in Israeli attacks.