BEIRUT (Oct. 2, 2024)—Families fleeing violence in Lebanon are struggling to find safety in shelters across the country. At least one million people—a fifth of the population—are now displaced, with half of them leaving their homes just within the past four days, as noted by Save the Children.
New relocation orders issued by Israeli forces on Tuesday are expected to swell these numbers, demanding residents from more than two dozen villages located south of the Awali River, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north, to evacuate.
The beginning of ground military operations alongside air attacks has been widely reported, with strikes on Ein El Helwe, Lebanon's largest refugee camp, reportedly resulting in seven casualties, among whom were four children.
This shocking speed of the crisis is applying immense pressure on hospitals. More than 37 primary healthcare centers have been forced to close due to safety concerns, exacerbated by the damage of airstrikes to 25 water facilities, rendering clean water inaccessible for approximately 300,000 people.
Currently, over 154,000 displaced individuals are taking refuge at 851 active shelters, which include public schools; 70% of these shelters have reached full capacity. The situation is grave, as many shelters lack proper sanitation facilities, hot water, and heating. Alternatively, others are residing with host families, often facing overcrowded living conditions.
Since September 23, Save the Children has been on the ground, distributing relief items to over 27,000 individuals, including 11,000 children, across 70 shelters. The organization has been providing essentials like blankets, mattresses, hygiene kits, and bottled water, with distributions reaching areas including the North, Bekaa, West Bekaa, Rashaya, Mount Lebanon, Saida, Sour, and Beirut.
On the flip side, media sources highlight the plight of around 60,000 Israelis who have also been displaced from their homes due to the conflict. Just this past Tuesday, reports surfaced about threats to Israeli children from missiles fired at Israel by Iran.
Yet the human toll of this conflict is staggering. Almost 2,000 people have died due to Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, with 104 children among the deceased, and over 8,000 have sustained injuries, according to the Ministry of Health of Lebanon.
Ahmad, 37, is one of the many who’ve fled. He has daughters aged seven months and two years and spent the day on the road seeking safety. Now sheltered in Mount Lebanon, he expressed the terror he feels for his family: “My wife and I are terrified about what might happen next. We’re scared for our daughters. What if something happens to them? And if something happens to us, what will become of them? Our 7-month-old cries constantly because she senses our fear.” He added, “We need diapers and baby food, proper clothes, and basic necessities. We couldn’t bring anything with us; we barely managed to grab our children and ran for our lives.”
Abir, 35 and a mother of three children aged five, eight, and ten, also fled her village after it was bombed and is now staying with her family at a shelter supported by Save the Children. Reflecting on her heartbreak, she explained, “It breaks our hearts to have left our home, but we had to put our feelings aside for the sake of our children. Our village, which had never been targeted before, was bombed.”
She recounted the fear and trauma her family endured: “I barely managed to pull myself together. We had prepared a bag for almost a year, knowing we needed to be ready, but nothing could have prepared us for the carnage.” They traveled from South Lebanon to Mount Lebanon, under terrifying circumstances and with no idea of their destination, their resolve driven merely by the urge to escape.
Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children’s Country Director for Lebanon, commented on the dire situation: “Children all over the country are affected by this escalated violence. Their lives turned upside down almost overnight as they lose their homes and the sense of safety.” She added, “There are families seeking shelter, but too many are still living out of cars or even on the streets of Beirut, which only amplifies the suffering.” The fear of the unknown has paralyzed many families, compounding their existing trauma.
Moorehead continued, stating, “Children will be disproportionately affected by this armed conflict. They number too many among casualties. Schools are shut down, shelters are overwhelmed, and hospitals are facing growing challenges.” Save the Children is pressing for immediate ceasefire to halt the suffering, secure humanitarian access, and stop the conflict from spiraling out of control.
Since its founding, Save the Children has been working continuously in Lebanon, responding to the needs of displaced children and families impacted by various crises, including the recent escalation of hostilities. They’ve managed to reach over 71,000 people with aid—including cash, blankets, mattresses, food parcels, and hygiene kits.
Save the Children’s commitment, which extends over 100 years, asserts the belief every child deserves a future—the chance for safety, health, and education. Measures taken should transform the future shared across generations. Urgent action from all parties is necessary to end this conflict and protect the lives of thousands of vulnerable children caught in the crossfire.
