" Lebanon is under fire. We are trying to help as humanitarians, but I ask for anyone listening: please do everything you can for the people of Lebanon. The ghost of hunger and the ghost of illness are chasing us all.”  - Badih, humanitarian worker and AFH partner in southern Lebanon 

For over a month, Lebanon has faced one of the fastest and largest population displacements in its history. Since early March, Israeli airstrikes and forced evacuation orders have pushed more than one million people to flee their homes. Families have had only hours to leave, abandoning homes, belongings, and livelihoods, often heading into uncertainty with nothing but what they can carry. 

Among them are children uprooted not once, but repeatedly. In just three weeks, over 370,000 children have been forced to leave their homes. Every day, around 19,000 more face the same journey. 

This displacement is happening while violence continues across southern Lebanon. It was announced that troops would invade Lebanon south of the Litani River, around 10% of the country, with the aim of expanding a so-called buffer zone. This means civilians in Lebanon are increasingly being left with nowhere safe to go. 

The human toll  

The southern city of Saida has become a lifeline. Local shelters, originally meant for a few thousand, now host tens of thousands. Our partner Badih describes the scene: 

“This humanitarian and political crisis is getting more intense. Without support from government and NGOs we will go into a different type of crisis: a crisis of hygiene and hunger.” 

Across Lebanon, over 660 collective shelters, mainly schools, are now overcrowded, leaving thousands sleeping in unsafe conditions. The use of schools as emergency shelters has disrupted education for over 150,000 students, creating a secondary crisis for Lebanon’s youngest. 

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable. Over 85% are living outside formal shelters, often in overcrowded or informal spaces, with limited access to hygiene supplies, maternal care, or protection from gender-based violence. Pregnant women are giving birth in these conditions, while children face both immediate danger and long-term psychological trauma from repeated displacement. 

Infrastructure under siege  

The humanitarian situation is compounded by attacks on essential services. Bridges connecting southern Lebanon have been destroyed, leaving roughly 150,000 people isolated from humanitarian aid. Hospitals, water stations, and schools have been damaged or destroyed, cutting off thousands from basic services. Families with chronic illnesses face life-threatening interruptions to medication and care. 

“The primary healthcare system is crumbling. We know from the last war, that those with chronic illnesses will only have medication for one month. When their stock finishes, the next problem arises.” 

Action For Humanity in Lebanon  

Despite the overwhelming scale, Action For Humanity teams continue to provide life-saving support:

1. Food and hygiene kits for displaced families 
2. Mobile health clinics to reach those unable to access hospitals
3. Shelter assistance and protection monitoring 

Since we established our Saida community kitchen in 2023, Action For Humanity and our partners have provided 358,000 hot meals. And now, with injuries and sickness growing from the war, your support is funding hundreds of medical appointments delivered by our ambulances across southern Lebanon. 

Our focus is on the most vulnerable — children, women, elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. But the reality is stark: resources are stretched thin, and without international attention and support from donors, many families remain in danger. 

“People need blankets, mattresses and pillows. They have been hungry; they need food and water. We need canned food - ready to eat meals - to cover hunger.” 

Advocating for urgent action  

While aid helps families survive, Lebanon’s people also need safe routes, a ceasefire, and stronger protections to return home and rebuild their lives. This is what we’re calling for the UK government to do:  

1. Advocate for an immediate ceasefire and safe humanitarian corridors, ensuring civilians can evacuate without risk, particularly from southern Lebanon.
2. Increase humanitarian funding to support emergency food, shelter, and healthcare for displaced communities, including women, children, and people with chronic illnesses.
3. Support long-term protection measures for vulnerable populations, including refugees, marginalized communities, and those living in informal or overcrowded shelters.
4. Work with international partners to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, including unlawful targeting, forced displacement, and attacks on essential infrastructure. 

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