Lifesaving aid for displaced children and families in Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis
"I am seeing my childhood, memories, home, and life being bombed in front of my eyes live on TV."
Lebanon is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Since September 2024, armed conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, mass casualties, and severe infrastructure damage.
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Fleeing from violence, over a million people have been displaced, with children and their families desperately seeking safety, shelter and necessities like food, blankets, and clean water.
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Half of these people have fled their homes in the last week, overwhelming Lebanon’s fragile public services.
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240,000 people have taken refuge in Syria, settling in border areas where shelters are overcrowded and essential resources are scarce.
As the situation in Lebanon remains highly unstable, particularly in Southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, we are witnessing airstrikes hitting new areas each day. The sounds of bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut are so loud that they can be heard even in Mount Lebanon, along with the constant noise of military aircraft overhead. Despite these challenges, our children and staff remain safe, and our Crisis Management Team is closely monitoring the evolving crisis, declares Ghada Hachem, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon.
SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon’s response to the crisis
SOS Children's Villages Lebanon is providing protection and lifesaving assistance to displaced children and families in the El Maten District, focusing on schools serving as shelters for internally displaced persons. Humanitarian support for displaced families fleeing Lebanon is being provided at the Jdaidet Yabous border crossing, rural Damascus, and Lattakia Governorate in Syria.
For the crisis-affected populations in Lebanon, SOS Children's Villages is on the front lines delivering critical assistance:
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Providing emergency food, non-food items, and cash assistance to displaced families in need.
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Distributing emergency hygiene and dignity kits and ensuring access to clean water.
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Creating safe spaces for children, offering mental health and psychosocial support, and strengthening families to prevent separation.
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Ensuring displaced children continue their education by providing essential materials.
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Expanding alternative care services at SOS Children's Villages Lebanon to meet the changing emergency needs.
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Creating temporary emergency shelters for refugees fleeing Lebanon.
All activities are being coordinated with other humanitarian actors, local partners, and government authorities, ensuring a collaborative and efficient response to the evolving crisis.
Your help is needed now!
We will reach 3000 displaced families, bringing relief and hope to 15,000 individuals in Lebanon and Syria. But to continue this life-saving work, we urgently need your support.
One heartfelt moment was shared by a 13-year-old girl, “My heart is with all the people in Lebanon who are displaced. I see their photos on Facebook, in schools, and on the streets without shelter. My biggest wish is to return to my home in Ksarnaba, but until then, I’m ready to help those in need and participate in the ongoing efforts and activities.”
How you can help
Donating to the SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund enables us to act swiftly in times of crisis, ensuring that Lebanon's displaced children and families receive the critical assistance they need. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a profound difference. Please donate now to provide food, shelter, and hope to those affected by this devastating conflict.
Together, we can help save lives and bring hope to those who need it most.