Responding to the Escalating War in Lebanon

Samar El-Yassir is Anera’s country director for Lebanon

In the first hours of the latest escalation of war in Lebanon over the past weekend, people began fleeing as evacuation orders took effect. Since then, those orders have continued every day.

The Israeli army called for residents to leave dozens of villages in the south and in the Bekaa. The warnings have since expanded to include Beirut’s southern suburb and all territory south of the Litani River, including the city of Tyre. These announcements signal preparations for a deeper ground invasion, and the fear across the country is palpable.

For civilians, the most immediate consequence is displacement. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes during the holy month of Ramadan. Families are searching desperately for shelter, but apartments are scarce and often unaffordable. Many people are sleeping in their cars or on the streets.

Our own staff have experienced this upheaval. On the first day of the escalation, nearly all Anera staff from southern Lebanon evacuated to safer areas. Many came to Beirut. Staff in the Bekaa Valley remained, as the strikes there have so far been more targeted than in the south, but safety feels uncertain everywhere.

Finding housing has become one of the greatest challenges. Suddenly, hundreds of thousands of people are searching for apartments at the same time, and there simply are not enough available.

Fear is also shaping people’s decisions. Some landlords hesitate to rent to families from the south because they worry their buildings could become targets. This fear intensified after a hotel in Hazmieh, very close to where I am, was struck after Israel said an Iranian national was staying there. Whether the claim is true or not, the message it sends is clear: any place might suddenly become a target. Now, when someone new arrives in a building or neighborhood, people immediately worry that their area could be next.

Despite the uncertainty, Anera’s teams mobilized immediately. From the first day, our staff have been in the field distributing bedding, one of the most urgent needs for families sleeping in shelters, cars or on the ground. We are also providing water, food, winter clothing and hygiene kits while doing everything we can to support our staff and the communities around us as the situation continues to change.

Yesterday, our south area team organized a distribution of ready-to-eat meals. They didn’t only go to shelters. They went directly to the streets, delivering food to families living in their cars. They reached people in about 250 vehicles.

This Ramadan should be a time of reflection, family and shared meals. Instead, many families in Lebanon are displaced, uncertain and afraid. Yet our staff, who are themselves affected, continue to show extraordinary dedication. Even as they search for safety for their own families, they are out in the field helping others.

In moments like this, solidarity becomes our most powerful resource. And we will continue to stand with the communities who need it most.

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