Lebanon is facing an intensifying humanitarian crisis amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Discover more about the situation and how you can help Lebanon.
Lebanon is facing an intensifying humanitarian crisis as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates. The recent surge in violence may lead to an estimated one million displaced people within Lebanon, adding to the strain on a country already in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades. Lebanese officials say more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks. Social services, including hospitals, are stretched beyond their limits, struggling to meet the needs of a population already suffering from years of economic hardship.
Sources: BBC, World Bank, BBC
On Oct. 8, the Lebanon-based and Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, launched a series of missile and other attacks on military targets and civilian communities across the border into Israel and has stated their attacks will continue until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. This has displaced around 60,000 Israelis along the country’s northern border with Lebanon. The Israeli government responded with targeted pager and walkie talkie attacks on Hezbollah on Sept. 17, followed by an aerial bombardment campaign ahead of Israel’s ground invasion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1. The Prime Minister of Lebanon says the country is facing “one of the most dangerous phases” in its history, as Israeli military told people in 30 southern Lebanese villages to leave their homes for safety. Later on Oct. 1 Iran sent more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel killing one person, and heightening fears of a regional war. The humanitarian crisis continues to intensify as fighting continues.
Officials in Lebanon estimate more than one million Lebanese people have been displaced because of the conflict over the last few weeks. It is important to know that Lebanon’s humanitarian challenges have been present for years. The country hosts one of the highest per capita refugee populations in the world, primarily due to the Syrian conflict. It’s estimated over 1.5 million Syrian refugees reside in Lebanon, accounting for nearly a quarter of the country’s population.
Sources: Reuters, The Guardian, BBC, UNHCR, HuffPost, BBC, The Guardian
The longstanding economic crisis in Lebanon has left Syrian refugees, along with many Lebanese citizens, in a precarious position, with limited access to food, healthcare, and other basic necessities. The recent conflict has only compounded these challenges, pushing more people into desperate circumstances. As certain communities bear the brunt of these hardships, the repercussions are beginning to ripple outward, impacting the broader Lebanese population. GlobalGiving is actively responding to the unfolding crisis, working closely with its dozens of partners on the ground in Lebanon. These local organizations are providing critical aid to those displaced by the conflict, offering food, shelter, medical care, and other essential services. However, the scale of the need is immense, and many partners are urgently calling for more support to meet the growing demand from impacted communities.
Fatima Mahmoud is one of GlobalGiving’s long-term partners in Lebanon who works for the Union of Relief and Development Associations in Beirut. “We visited the displaced Lebanese families in schools in south Lebanon and Beqaa to deliver the needed aid from ready-to-eat kits, and non-food items such as the sleeping kit from blankets, mattresses, and pillows,” she recently shared. She continued:
“We heard the stories from the families who left everything behind to seek refuge in a safer area for their children and families.”
– Fatima Mahmoud, GlobalGiving partner
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating. The widespread displacement of people in Lebanon, combined with the country’s existing economic and social challenges, has created a crisis of staggering scale. Donations to our vetted partners in Lebanon will help them respond to the urgent and growing needs as they occur.
GlobalGiving is committed to delivering life-saving aid and supporting recovery efforts in Lebanon and surrounding areas impacted by violence. Donations to our dedicated fund will help local partners in Lebanon respond to the urgent and growing needs as they occur. In a humanitarian crisis like the one unfolding in Lebanon, cash donations are the most effective way to provide assistance.
Survivors’ needs vary greatly throughout the life cycle of humanitarian recovery—some will require financial support, medical care, and psychological assistance years down the road. You can learn more about your cash donations can help people in Lebanon in this infographic with more practical tips on helping those affected by this crisis.
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