The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that two members of its staff have been killed in Israeli shelling in Lebanon.

“Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon are now relentlessly costing hundreds of civilian lives” said the head of the UNHCR, Filippo Grandi, in a post on X.

“It is with great sadness that I confirm that two colleagues of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were killed yesterday,” he said, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.

The Service “is outraged and deeply saddened by the death of two much-loved UNHCR family members in Lebanon“, she said in a statement.

The UNHCR she expressed her anger and the “deep sadness” of the murders of Dina Darwis, who worked with UNHCR for 12 years at the Agency’s Bekaa office in eastern Lebanon, and Ali Basma, who worked at the UNHCR office in Tire for seven years.

“The building where Dina, her husband and their two young children lived was hit by an Israeli rocket yesterday“, the Service said.

“Her husband and one of her children were rescued and are being treated in hospital for serious injuries. Dina and the body of her youngest son were recovered today».

Ali was employed by a cleaning company contracted by UNHCR and was killed by a blow to a building in southern Lebanon.

“The High Commissioner is outraged by the killing of our colleagues and we express our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.” “Over 550 people were killed in Lebanon in just one day, yesterday. The protection of civilians is essential».