Lebanon: State of Emergency

Hassan, a 41-year-old, internally displaced Lebanese community member, speaks with a trembling voice. “There were airstrikes near our home in the South,” he recounts. “I could no longer risk staying there with my family. I had to ensure their safety. The sound of the airstrikes was horrifying, and for the first time, I saw just how terrified the little ones were. As a father, how do you keep your children from feeling scared? I feel helpless. There’s no way to shelter them from this terror. Our area has been severely affected, and I know that some families have lost their homes.”

The situation in Lebanon is alarmingly dire. In recent weeks, the country has experienced intense airstrikes in villages and cities - some lasting up to five hours - escalating the conflict and causing significant devastation and casualties. This marks one of the worst escalations in many years. Lebanon, already facing severe economic and political crises while hosting 1.5 million refugees, is now also struggling with over 1.2 million newly internally displaced people. Destruction of infrastructure and shortages of resources disrupt aid efforts, impacting millions.

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Following the conflict’s escalation on September 23, 2024, the overall security situation has deteriorated, making daily life increasingly difficult for the population. In Beirut, terrified men, women, children, and refugees have fled their homes, leaving with only the clothes on their backs and a few essential belongings. Desperate for safety, they have set up temporary tentlike shelters from plastic sheets and tied-together clothing in beaches, public gardens and other safer locations in areas around the city. Throughout the country, particularly in the Bekaa Valley and the South—many families have sought refuge in schools in other safer areas, that have been converted into collective shelters. What was once a place of learning and play for children and adolescents is now a shelter for families who have abandoned their homes for survival.

With daily airstrikes and the uncertainty of when they will occur, it is estimated that over 400,000 people, including Syrians and Lebanese, have crossed the border into neighbouring Syria, seeking safety. The escalating insecurity continues to put vulnerable populations at greater risk, with frequent airstrikes making daily activities unsafe. Residents in airstrike-affected areas witness buildings collapsing and villages emptying. Roads are often blocked or over capacitated due to the movements of people trying to flee for safer areas. Families who are unable to return home are less able to support themselves due to the loss of their livelihoods.  

Humanitarian needs are on the rise, and the shape and scale of the devastation is disrupting access to essential services and hindering the delivery of aid to people who need it. The situation is leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future across all age groups, as the anticipation of more destruction and a broader conflict loom over the country.  

This is true even for humanitarian actors who continue to respond despite the severity of the situation. The situation is profoundly impacting our staff and their families too, many of whom have loved ones that have been affected by this conflict and particularly in the Bekaa Valley, where they are actively responding. Moreover, the emotional burden of witnessing the suffering of colleagues and communities, along with the immense devastation of their villages and cities, takes a heavy toll.

One of our staff members living in the Bekaa shared the following with us: “My family and I no longer feel safe anywhere. My children are terrified, and I don’t know how to protect them. The airstrikes went on nonstop for five hours in the Bekaa Valley, filling the area with thick black clouds of smoke. I am trying to remain calm for the sake of my children, but it’s impossible, especially with the constant sound of airplanes overhead”

Medair is on the ground and responding to the needs of the affected population in the Bekaa Valley and Beirut Mount Lebanon. Since the 23th of September, funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Medair has distributed over 9000 mattresses and blankets to internally displaced people affected by the conflict across 114 different distributions, mostly collective shelters.  

Additionally, after conducting assessments in 114 collective shelters to update data, evaluate building conditions, and identify needs, Medair has started to conduct minor repairs such as installing showers, door handles, windows and partitions to provide safety, security and protection. To support displaced individuals' mental well-being, we have trained volunteers in psychological first aid and are implementing sessions in the collective shelters. Medair is expanding our emergency health response from supporting 2 primary health care centres to 4 further centres (6 in total) and is setting up mobile clinics to serve the designated collective shelters in the immediate area.  

Medair's work in Lebanon is possible with funding from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Chaîne du Bonheur, Swiss Development Cooperation through Interaction-CH, German Federal Foreign Office (or AA) and generous private donors.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organization.  

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