For children in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East, the sounds of armed violence have become a tragic daily reality. And in Lebanon, schools that once provided hope and stability are now closed, with classrooms turned into makeshift shelters. Thousands of displaced families face uncertainty every day.
Lebanon, which has long been host to millions of refugees, now faces a new wave of displacement. Already hosting the highest concentration of refugees per capita, the country is now on the edge of another humanitarian crisis, with more than half of its population living in poverty.
“The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is devastating. Some 1.2 million people have been displaced, and families that had found refuge in Lebanon after other crises are once again fleeing for their lives,” said Margaret Schuler, senior vice president of International Programs for World Vision. “The conflict is impacting children caught in this cycle of violence, hunger, and displacement. Behind each statistic is a story — stories of children and the families who want to keep them safe — enduring unimaginable fear, trauma, and loss.”
Developments in Lebanon in recent days include:
- 1,700 conflict-related deaths and 690 children injured in the last six weeks, according to U.N. agencies
- A growing healthcare crisis, with health workers facing a shortage of basic supplies
- Increasing numbers of people displaced from their homes — a total of over 1.2 million, including 284,894 who have fled Lebanon since September 23, 2024
Our teams are committed to serving the most vulnerable children and families, even in the most dangerous places. Along with our partners, we are actively responding to needs across the Middle East:
- In October 2023, we began efforts to support 390,000 people across the region with critical aid, including 190,000 children. In May 2024, we expanded this goal to 1.2 million children and their families.
- To date we have supported 477,587 people in Lebanon and the West Bank with critical aid including food, shelter, healthcare, psychosocial support, and educational support.
- From September 23 to October 6, we delivered aid to 113,128 people in 191 shelters in Lebanon, including more than 39,595 children. This aid has included mattresses, blankets, pillows, hot meals, and food parcels.
Over the next six months, World Vision will continue supporting impacted communities with hot and cold meals, food parcels, supplies for kitchen use, and more. In addition, we will continue supporting children through child protection and education programs, including online learning support via tablets and computers.
Now more than ever, children in Lebanon and across the Middle East need our help. Our staff and those we serve deeply appreciate the continued prayers of our donors and partners. Gifts to support these urgent relief efforts can be made to our Disaster Relief Fund.
