The recent escalation in Lebanon has displaced 1.2 million people, damaged homes and pushed already vulnerable communities into deeper need.
People are in desperate need of shelter, food, water, medication and protection.
CAFOD meets with our partner Caritas Lebanon at a high school in Beirut which has been converted into a collective shelter currently housing 322 families.
Throughout the last decade, people in Lebanon have faced multiple prolonged and devastating crises, including the 2019 financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion in 2020 and the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Each new crisis has made life harder for the people of Lebanon as well as Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrants in the country.
The current escalation of conflict, which began in March this year, is having a devastating impact on communities that have already been traumatised by years of conflict and instability. One in five people have been forced to flee from home, leaving behind their lives, neighbourhoods, work and often loved ones.
Families across Lebanon are facing growing humanitarian needs as violence continues. The effects of the current conflict are being compounded by years of crisis, leaving many people to cope with displacement, loss and uncertainty on top of challenges they were already facing.
CAFOD has worked with local partners in Lebanon since the 1980s.
We have long-standing relationships with our partners such as Caritas Lebanon part of our global church network. These organisations are rooted in their communities, so they are already present when emergencies strike or escalate. They know the people, understand local realities, and can respond immediately.
With your support CAFOD is also funding local grassroots organisations and community groups in Lebanon, for example Tres Marias, a small community kitchen and safe space founded during the pandemic in 2020. The organisation is led by members of the Filipino community and supports people of all nationalities, especially other migrant workers. Tres Marias provides meals for displaced people, offering comfort, care, and a sense of community during difficult times.
As the situation worsens, our partners are continuing to support families with emergency food and essential supplies, helping people who have lost so much and are unable to return home.
CAFOD partner Tres Marias provides 300 meals for displaced people
For families caught up in crisis, the impact does not end when ceasefires are announced, especially when violence continues. Nor does it end when headlines fade and the news cycle moves on.
Our neighbours in Lebanon will still be dealing with the impact of displacement, loss of income and damaged infrastructure. So many will not have a place to return to as their homes have been destroyed. Recovery will take time.
CAFOD’s partners stay alongside communities through this longer journey, helping people rebuild and supporting them through the ongoing effects of crisis.
Families in Lebanon are facing huge challenges right now. Your support is helping CAFOD work through trusted local partners and grassroot community groups who can respond immediately and remain with communities for as long as they are needed.
