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As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated with the bombings on September 23, follow our daily updates on our emergency response in Lebanon.
October 4, 2024
As of September 30, 2024, more than one million Lebanese citizens have been forced to leave their homes due to Israeli bombings and have fled to other parts of Lebanon. Among them, at least 142,000 have taken refuge in one of the 820 collective shelters provided by the government.
While the registration process works well in collective shelters, it does not truly account for those who have found refuge with private individuals or in informal camps. This is why, despite the registration of 349,000 displaced people, the real figure is believed to be closer to one million.
Lebanon was hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees before September 23.
The UN also reports that over 177,000 Syrians and 63,000 Lebanese have crossed the border to seek refuge in Syria.
In less than two weeks, at least 1,000 people have lost their lives, and 6,352 have been injured.
Lebanon
Context and action- 5.7 million inhabitants
- 112th out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index
- 175,656 people assisted
In addition to displacing hundreds of thousands of people, the bombings have damaged infrastructure and disrupted essential services. As a result, humanitarian needs have skyrocketed. People left their homes without being able to take anything with them, and they were in immediate need for food, water, and sanitation. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is carrying on with the repair of water networks and collective shelters, as well as distributing water, ready-to-eat food parcels, menstrual hygiene items, and baby kits…
As a significant part of the Lebanese population has lost its sources of income, it will soon become difficult for them to purchase essential goods. An increase in humanitarian needs is therefore expected in the coming weeks.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024
As of September 25, the bombing campaign has resulted in 90,000 additional displaced people (source: IOM), adding to the 110,000 individuals who had already fled the south of the country since October 7, 2023.
“Many have slept one or two nights in their cars“, describes Daniele Regazzi, country director for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL in Lebanon. “We are seeing a massive level of needs.”
As of September 26, 67,000 people have found refuge in 514 collective shelters, primarily schools, made available by the government. Others have remained in informal shelters, such as churches and community centers, or have been hosted by private individuals. Syrian refugees, many of whom are in the Bekaa Valley and already very vulnerable, have had to move again, without access to the collective shelters that are prohibited to them. Most have therefore sought refuge in already overcrowded informal shelters, making access to humanitarian assistance even more challenging.
The teams are in action: distributing bottled water, food rations, menstrual hygiene kits, and repairing water systems in emergency collective shelters. They are also working to assess shelter needs.
“Drinking, eating, finding shelter. When horror strikes civilians, the essence of our mandate resonates as the most obvious response!” reminds Thomas Janny, regional director for the Middle East at SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL.
“Our response is still modest compared to the needs, but we are here, working under very complex access and security conditions while the bombings continue. The uncertainty regarding the evolution of the situation is immense: we hope, of course, that the violence will stop, but we are preparing for a large-scale and prolonged response.“
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
Yesterday morning, on September 23, 2024, after weeks of rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, an Israeli bombing campaign began in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Beirut. These attacks have resulted in at least 492 deaths, including 94 women and 50 children, and over 1,500 injuries. In the face of the violence of the bombings, tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.
The teams from SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, present in Lebanon since 2013, have themselves been affected by the bombings. Some have had to leave their homes to find refuge elsewhere. Nevertheless, they are already hard at work, responding to the vital needs of displaced people.
“The primary needs are access to water“, explains Thomas Janny, regional director for the Middle East. “Those who are displaced must be able to drink. Food, shelter, and access to healthcare are also necessary“.
Food rations are already being distributed, and interventions to ensure access to drinking water are expected to be implemented in the coming days by the NGO’s teams.
Press Release: Crise au Liban – SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is taking action
Header picture: © REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir