"Around a million of our people have been displaced because of the devastating war that Israel is waging on Lebanon," the National News Agency reported Najib Mikati as saying. "We urgently call for more aid to reinforce our ongoing efforts to provide basic support to displaced civilians," he added in a meeting with UN

The statement comes hours after Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon early Tuesday, backed by air forces and artillery, marking the first time Israel has invaded Lebanon since 2006.

Since Monday, intense airstrikes across Lebanon's east, south and on southern Beirut have killed hundreds of people and forced many to flee their homes.

Mikati on Sunday said the Israeli attacks may have forced up to a million people to flee parts of Lebanon in possibly the worst displacement crisis in the tiny country's history.

Mikati told reports that "the estimated number is very high and may reach one million" -- which would amount to roughly a sixth of Lebanon's population.

"It is the largest displacement movement that may have happened... in Lebanon," he said.

Earlier this week, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said "well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon" and more than 50,000 had fled to neighbouring Syria.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.