Critical humanitarian situation in Lebanon due to the current conflict
SESOBEL
One of ICPS' most active organisational members is SESOBEL in Lebanon. Fadia Safi, President & CEO, sent this report on the current situation:
I am writing to share a worrying update on the situation in Lebanon, which is now plunged into a new humanitarian crisis due to the military escalation with Israel. Beyond the clashes and political issues, it is civilians who are paying the highest price.
Humanitarian impact
The current hostilities have already had dramatic consequences for the Lebanese population, particularly in the South of the country:
Mass displacement: Thousands of families have had to flee their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas or in temporary shelters. These internally displaced people lack basic resources, such as food, clean water and sanitation. Schools and public infrastructure are overwhelmed, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate the families who continue to arrive.
Limited access to health care: Hospitals and health centers in the affected areas are under pressure, struggling to provide the necessary care to the wounded and chronically ill. The shortage of medicines and medical supplies, already critical before the conflict, is worsening by the day, putting lives at risk.
Children and education: Many children, traumatized by the bombings and displacement, no longer have access to education. Schools, often requisitioned as shelters, can no longer provide normal education, seriously compromising the future of an entire generation.
Energy and food crisis: The war has exacerbated the shortage of electricity and water, and food supplies are now limited in several areas. The prices of basic foodstuffs have skyrocketed, pushing even more families into extreme poverty.
Urgent need for a coordinated response
It is essential that we redouble our efforts to coordinate a rapid and effective humanitarian response. The Lebanese people need our solidarity and support in these difficult times. Safe access for humanitarian organizations to the affected areas must be guaranteed to ensure the distribution of aid and prevent a larger humanitarian catastrophe.
At SESOBEL we are taking all means and trying to find resources, to remain present alongside our children and young people and their families who have been forced to move and those who have stayed at home... to ensure their vital needs.
Our children are scheduled to return to school next Tuesday, to support the parents and provide the care and therapy that our children need most... if the situation allows us and if our regions are still spared...
We are also organizing psychosocial support sessions for children and their parents to help them manage the stress and fear of their child, because our children and their brothers and sisters are traumatized...
We are preparing a reception area and a team available at SESOBEL in case the bombings do not allow us or the parents to bring the children home...
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