'Our Family Felt Well and Truly Cared For' - Emergency Response in Lebanon

In 2024, as conflict in the Middle East escalated, thousands of families in Lebanon were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in makeshift shelters.

We launched an urgent humanitarian response — delivering daily hot meals, essential supplies, and emotional support to those in need. Read on to see how, with the generosity of our supporters, we brought hope and dignity to displaced families during this crisis.

2024 brought dramatic changes to the Middle East, with Lebanon facing an unprecedented crisis as conflict erupted between Israel and Gaza and escalated into war with Hezbollah. By mid-September, intense airstrikes and violence displaced thousands, with families seeking refuge in public schools, universities, and other institutions across Lebanon. 

These spaces were ill-equipped to meet basic needs so we launched a large-scale humanitarian response. Our efforts in Beirut delivered essential aid to displaced families struggling to survive in makeshift shelters and rented accommodations.

Thanks to the generous donations of Children on the Edge supporters, a key part of our response was providing over 20,000 hot meals, prepared and distributed daily to different shelters by a team of dedicated volunteers. 
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To resource families to cook for themselves, the team also installed cooking stations in seven local shelters, complete with pots, burners, and propane bottles, and supplied raw materials on a weekly basis.

Recognising the harsh winter conditions, we also distributed 450 mattresses and blankets, ensuring families had basic comfort and warmth, along with 1,000 food and hygiene packs for both shelter residents and displaced families living in private accommodations.

Alongside aid, our team provided emotional and practical support, including online education for children and meetings for women. One recipient told us how, “The amount of attention we received here is something I’ve never experienced, my family felt truly welcomed and cared for.”

NEXT STEPS

Even as the recent ceasefire saw shelters emptying, many displaced families remain in limbo, uncertain if they can return to restricted areas, with many homes destroyed by the attacks. We continue to provide vital aid, and are in the process of buying food vouchers for another 350 displaced families.

​With the ceasefire and new government leadership in place, we feel a sense of optimism and will continue offering hope and dignity to those facing an uncertain future.