AS MANY AS HALF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES TO ESCAPE THE CONFLICT IN LEBANON, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES. "THIS IS OPEN WAR. THE NUMBERS ARE CHANGING BY THE HOUR AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE EXACT NUMBERS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE, BUT WE ESTIMATE IT IS AROUND 500,000," DPA QUOTED UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SPOKESMAN ANDREJ MAHECIC AS SAYING WEDNESDAY. THE UNHCR SAID AN EMERGENCY TEAM OF UP TO 11 PEOPLE WAS DUE TO ARRIVE IN THE REGION AT THE WEEKEND TO CARRY OUT FURTHER ASSESSMENTS.