The Israeli military has told civilians living in a large swathe of southern Lebanon to leave their homes immediately and move north of the Litani River because of intended military action against Hezbollah.
The sweeping orders came as hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group continued to escalate. Hours after issuing the instruction, the military said it had begun “a wave of strikes” in the south.
Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon have already been displaced since fighting erupted on Monday.
One man still living in southern Lebanon told the BBC that he would not leave his home.
“Let them say whatever they want – I’m not going to Beirut to be on the streets,” Mohamed, 25, said.
“I’m not next to Hezbollah or any of its infrastructure, so I should be fine,” he said, adding that he would rather die in his home than flee.
Another man said he and his disabled wife had already moved this week and did not know whether they would be able to find shelter further north.
In the capital, Beirut, displaced civilians have been sleeping in shelters, on roadsides, in parks and in their cars.
Volunteers at food kitchens and shelters told the BBC they were concerned they would not be able to keep up with the rising demand.