Middle East emergency

6 March 2026

Lebanon: exodus accelerates after evacuation order south of Beirut

Since the evacuation order imposed yesterday by the Israeli authorities south of Beirut, population movements have reached a new threshold. According to the latest estimates, nearly half a million people have already been forced to flee their homes. The situation has rapidly deteriorated, with 95,773 people now registered in the 441 official reception centres opened across the country.

With each passing hour, new needs arise: food, drinking water, emergency accommodation, hygiene, protection… Reception centres are overwhelmed, and local infrastructure is struggling to cope with the massive influx of displaced families.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has begun distributing food in northern and southern Lebanon and is continuing to assess priority needs.

3 March 2026, 4 p.m.

The day was marked by an intensification of the conflict. Lebanon has become one of the main fronts of war, with heavy bombing and Israeli ground incursions in the south of the country.

The number of people fleeing the war to the north continues to rise. By midday, 50,000 people had been registered in collective reception centres, while thousands more were still seeking shelter.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL was able to distribute hygiene kits to people arriving at four collective reception centres in Saida, a large coastal city located 40 kilometres south of Beirut.

3 March 2026, 10 a.m.

Since February 28, the United States and Israel have been attacking Iran, exacerbating the already severe crises in the region. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been operating in the region for over 20 years and is ready to support those affected by this major act of violence. While the future of the Iranian population remains uncertain, the consequences are already dire in Lebanon.

Uncertain futures in Iran

The United States and Israel’s attack on Iran on 28 February is having repercussions in a Middle East that is already severely affected by crises. While the human cost remains unclear, the Iranian people have immediately been faced with issues relating to protection and health. Many people are also likely to have to leave their homes. Displacement is a time of extreme vulnerability, as access to essential services such as water, food and shelter is often unavailable. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is therefore prepared to provide assistance in neighbouring countries if population movements occur, and in Iran if access becomes possible.

In Lebanon, the population is fleeing

Teams are closely following the situation in all countries in the region. Of these, Lebanon is experiencing the most severe humanitarian consequences. The conflict spread quickly there, culminating in massive strikes on March 2nd in the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon. Evacuation orders continue to multiply, and an offensive by the Tsahal started on the morning of March 3rd. Within 12 hours, tens of thousands of people had left their homes. By the evening, there were long traffic jams on Lebanese roads, mainly heading north.
This was an additional disaster for these people, most of whom had already been displaced and had seen their environment destroyed 18 months earlier during the war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Imminent deployment of humanitarian aid

The SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL team has also been affected. Several members have been forced to flee their homes due to air strikes or evacuation orders and are currently trying to find shelter for their families. Nevertheless, the team is organising humanitarian aid. More than 40,000 people have already arrived at collective centres. Most of these are schools that have been made available, but they cannot provide the minimum level of sanitation and heating for these families, who are being housed there day and night at the end of winter. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL will therefore urgently upgrade the infrastructure. Distributions of basic necessities and hygiene kits are also being prepared.

As the entire region holds its breath, Lebanon is experiencing another tragedy in an atmosphere of almost resigned silence. The harsh winter and the Ramadan period are making an already difficult situation even worse. While the rest of the world analyses events and ponders the geopolitical future of the Middle East, let us not forget that civilians always pay the highest price in armed conflicts.