CIVICUS discusses the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon with Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), an independent network working to strengthen civil society and promote democracy, human rights and sustainable development in Arab countries.

On 23 September, Israel escalated its attacks against the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, raising the prospect of a wider regional war. The latest attacks alone have caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, killing 970 people, injuring 2,784 and displacing thousands. Numerous countries quickly sent aid and humanitarian groups have started distributing supplies, but the need far outweighs the resources available.

What is the security situation like in Lebanon?

The situation has steadily deteriorated since 8 October 2023 due to increasing Israeli attacks. Since then, over 12,000 airstrikes have killed more than 2,700 people and injured 13,000. They have destroyed 45,000 homes and partially damaged 200,000, leaving many families without shelter. And they have displaced over 1.3 million people, placing an additional burden on a country that’s already home to nearly two million Syrian refugees. The escalating violence has affected peacekeepers, rendering much of southern Lebanon, including areas patrolled by the United Nations (UN) Interim Force in Lebanon, largely uninhabitable.

Air strikes have targeted vital infrastructure, including medical centres, water systems and government facilities, and disrupted rescue operations. The extensive destruction of infrastructure, homes and businesses has already caused an estimated US$20 billion in economic losses. The use of internationally banned weapons has rendered agricultural land unusable.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that Lebanon is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades. An estimated US$250 million a month is needed for food, clean water and medicine. Many displaced people still do not have adequate shelter, and tens of thousands have fled abroad in search of safety.

How are Lebanese authorities responding?

Since 2019, Lebanon has faced a severe economic collapse, with the banking sector in disarray, the national currency losing 98 per cent of its value and inflation reaching 400 per cent. This, as well as the Beirut port explosion in 2020, left the government with limited resources and overstretched the institutions needed to tackle the current crisis.

Nevertheless, the government has mobilised emergency services and coordinated with the Lebanese armed forces to manage the surge of displaced civilians and maintain order. A Government Emergency Committee has taken steps to convert public schools into temporary shelters. The initiative has been widely criticised as poorly planned, but some 1,100 shelters have already opened, with 980 being at full capacity. Still, only about 20 per cent of displaced people have found shelter so far.

At the same time, the government is trying to activate diplomatic channels to persuade Israel to accept a ceasefire in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates an end to hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any forces and weapons other than those of the Lebanese state.

The government is also seeking international support to strengthen the Lebanese army’s control of borders with Israel and Syria, to improve security and humanitarian relief in areas with large numbers of displaced people. In addition, there are negotiations in capitals in the region and in Europe, and Qatar, for example, has met with Israeli and US security services to discuss an initiative for a ceasefire.

What role is Lebanese civil society playing?

Lebanon has an active and dynamic civil society with extensive experience in emergency and relief response, particularly after previous Israeli aggression in 2006 and the Beirut port explosion. Civil society organisations have once again stepped in to address urgent humanitarian needs and fill the gaps left by the state by providing critical assistance, including food, medical supplies and shelter for displaced people. They have also been crucial in organising communities, providing psychological support and advocating for human rights. Despite logistical and security challenges, civil society has been invaluable as an intermediary between international resources and local needs.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in social media campaigns led by civil society groups seeking to mobilise resources, highlight urgent needs and raise funds to support displaced people. The widespread solidarity shown by volunteers has helped maintain social cohesion, safeguard civil peace and respond to humanitarian needs at a time when the state is weak and fragmented.

What has been the international response, and what more should the international community do?

The international community’s response has been mixed and delayed due to Lebanon’s failure to implement key reforms and the strain of other global crises such as the war in Ukraine and migration in Europe. Some support has been provided by international organisations such as UNRWA – the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency –, the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF, but unfortunately, the aid provided is not enough.

In response to a joint emergency appeal by Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the UN, several countries have offered assistance, with France, Germany and the USA pledging significant sums. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UN continue to push for a ceasefire.

France called an international conference in Paris on 24 October, with the aim of mobilising urgent humanitarian aid, rallying the international community to help displaced people and affirming the need to stop hostilities in line with Resolution 1701. Around 70 government delegations and 15 international organisations took part. Iran and Israel were not invited, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the conference.

The international community must intensify its diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and ensure the full implementation of Resolution 1701. Increased humanitarian assistance is needed to meet the growing needs of displaced people, support reconstruction efforts and stabilise key sectors such as education and health. To address the root causes of Lebanon’s protracted crises, it will be also crucial to strengthen institutions, and particularly the army, provide financial and technical support to much-needed reforms and strengthen civil society.