[Video transcript]

Gridlock as people flee southern Lebanon — to escape the dozens of airstrikes that have hammered the area. Heading north, where many have ended sleeping in parks and schools, like here in the city of Sidon. Evacuees say they've just escaped hell. 

Man with child: "The situation was tough, with roads blocked and airstrikes landing in front of us every time we tried to move. Finally, around 6 PM, a car arrived and took us and we got here at dawn."

Woman: "We are in a crisis. Economic crisi, financial crisis, health crisis. We have nothing. Plus war. It`s beyond our expectations, I didn`t expect that...War, people left their villages. Left their homes. No words can explain this situation."

Lebanon is a tiny country bordering Israel and Syria. It covers 10-thousand square kilometers and has a population of 5.5 million people. The airstrikes have targeted areas under Hezbollah control — driving people to the cities of Sidon, the capital Beirut, and Tripoli, despite airstrikes there as well. And over the Syrian border. 

The country is still recovering from a massive explosion in 2020 that flattened much of Beirut's harbor area, helping spark a currency crisis. In addition, Iran has long meddled in Lebanese politics, stoking religious tensions and backing Hezbollah. The militant group has been launching missiles at Israel since Hamas's terror attack on October 7th last year, saying it supports Hamas and the Palestinians. 

Lebanon also took in an estimated one million Syrian refugees in the past decade, many of whom have now been uprooted again. Now Syria says hundreds have crossed over its side of the border as it prepares to receive more people. 

Aid workers say they weren't ready for anything on this scale.

Mustafa Hijazi, head of the Sidon Crisis Management Unit: "We are lacking food and hygiene kits. The schools have big issues starting with bathrooms, to trying to find fuel for electricity..etc. We are truly witnessing a struggle in the operation room but we are trying as much as we can."

Lebanon's foreign  minister hopes to meet with US officials in the coming days — he says only the US can make a difference in the situation.