Lebanon Activity Log | September 2024

In the midst of escalating violence and widespread destruction in Lebanon, the situation for countless families is dire, with over one million people displaced and many more affected by bombings and ground attacks. Despite the chaos, Anera’s team remains steadfast in our efforts to provide urgent aid and improve living conditions for those in need. 

Our team responded to severe water system failures at the Lebanese University (UNESCO), which hosts 800 displaced persons. Due to outdated infrastructure, the water system was overwhelmed, leading to issues with clogged and dirty tanks. Our team worked diligently to clean and repair the tanks, restore broken pipes, and ultimately provide residents with a safe, fully functioning water system. 

In Dekwene, a eastern suburb of Beirut, we are assessing the needs at a local school, currently serving as a shelter, and will prepare hot meals for the 1,900 internally displaced individuals that reside there.

The situation remains challenging, with widespread displacement and uncertainty. A ground invasion looms, and infrastructure issues, such as old, poorly maintained shelters, further complicate relief efforts, particularly as the rainy season approaches. Despite these obstacles, we continue to respond proactively, distribute supplies, and coordinate with partners to meet growing needs. 

With support from UNHCR and UNICEF, we’ve distributed over 5,500 pillows and mattresses, reaching various shelters in Beirut, Saida and Tripoli. Specifically, 600 mattresses and blankets were delivered to a shelter in Saida, while 600 additional sets reached displaced persons at the Lebanese University (UNESCO). Al Arabi Center at Zkak Blat and displaced families in Tripoli also received critical supplies.

In Northern Lebanon, Anera’s team provided urgent support to Meriata Official School by filling two large water tanks, each with a capacity of approximately 2110 gallons, to ensure students and displaced individuals have reliable access to clean water.

Olive and tobacco farmers are on the brink of losing their harvests for the second season in a row, facing severe economic fallout. Phosphorus bombs have contaminated the soil and water sources, threatening aquatic life, polluting the air, and leaving toxic residues that could damage crops for seasons to come. With rain carrying pollutants deeper into the land, urgent soil and water rehabilitation is essential to restore Lebanon’s agricultural lifeline and prevent long-term environmental degradation.

As many of you have seen, it has been a dark few days for Lebanon, marked by the recent bombing in Beirut’s southern suburbs. In response, some residents have fled as far north as Tripoli, nearly 50 miles away, while the streets of Beirut are filled with displaced families. Some of our staff have slept in their cars or sought safety elsewhere, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this crisis.

Anera’s team in the today distributed 400 feminine hygiene kits and 400 family kits across six locations in Mount Lebanon. Our team also distributed 300 blankets and 300 pillows to a school in the Tarik El Jdide neighborhood in Beirut.