In Beirut, displaced people grapple with the latest wave of violence

The Globe's Mark MacKinnon describes how central Beirut has become a hub for refugees fleeing Israeli strikes, looking for transport away from southern parts of the city. The UN refugee agency said on Friday that nearly 100,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon and tens of thousands of Syrian refugees there have fled back over the border, calling the situation in the region a "major humanitarian emergency." Israel has issued large-scale evacuation orders for southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut amid hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah since a U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran began on February 28. As smoke from air strikes rose over Beirut's southern districts Friday, Israel’s warnings to leave the area caused gridlock downtown. Those unable to find shelter in schools put up tents or slept in cars. Others laid blankets on pavement. #IranWar #Lebanon #Beirut