Around 1 p.m. on Monday, traffic was nearly halted on the southern highway and the internal roads leading to Saida and Beirut, as well as towards northern Lebanon, blocked by massive gridlocks.
Since the morning, panic has gripped thousands of Lebanese residents living in the border areas of southern Lebanon.
Israeli warnings and the ultimatum given by Tel Aviv, urging people to immediately leave areas near civilian buildings where Hezbollah is allegedly storing its weapons, have pushed many to flee in a rush. Many are trying to find refuge in Saida or Tyre, while others have moved farther away.
In Saida, rescue operations were quickly organized. In an interview with This is Beirut, independent Saida MP Abdel Rahman Bizri said “there is a massive influx of cars into the city causing huge traffic jams since this morning, as families (fleeing the south) are either trying to rent apartments or seeking help from the municipality.”
Bizri said “a meeting was held today (Monday) with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the city’s active forces to assist the displaced, most of whom fled with only minimal personal belongings.”