Islamic Relief launches £10m emergency appeal in Lebanon

After Lebanon suffers its deadliest day in decades, Islamic Relief has launched a £10 million emergency appeal to support people affected by an escalation in Israeli attacks.

Yesterday (Monday 23 September 2024) Lebanon suffered its bloodiest day since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli aerial strikes killed 558 people, including first responders, women, and 50 children. More than 1,800 people were wounded and thousands more families have been forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in crowded schools.

The crisis has been escalating since 8 October 2023, with Lebanon under bombardment and suffering hundreds of Israeli airstrikes over the past year. More than 116,000 people have been displaced and many are now in desperate need of aid. Some 4,000 residential buildings have been destroyed, while 20,000 more have been significantly damaged. Currently, at least 700 people are thought to have been killed and more than 6,000 injured.

Now the number of people killed and displaced is rising rapidly as the attacks escalate.

The escalation in Lebanon comes as much of the population struggles to cope with the fallout from a years-long economic crisis, and amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of nearby Gaza.

Islamic Relief’s lifesaving humanitarian aid in Lebanon

Islamic Relief’s appeal is looking to raise an initial £10 million to expand our efforts to help families uprooted by the escalation in violence.

Since last October, Islamic Relief has been supporting displaced and host communities in need of food, bedding, medical supplies and other essentials.  Our interventions have been particularly critical in Nabatieh, Tyre, Bekaa, and Baalbek, where most of the displaced are seeking refuge.

We have provided more than 3,400 food parcels, 500 meat packs, and over 2,200 hygiene kits to help affected people stay fed and clean. We have also distributed blankets and mattresses to 300 families, and more than 6,900 medical items to hospitals and satellite clinics.

These items are still desperately needed, along with solar lamps, floor mats and unconditional cash assistance.

“The past few days have seen the heaviest attacks on Lebanon in many years. The country has turned upside down and is in complete chaos, with more people fleeing their homes every hour and taking refuge in crowded schools,” Akram Sadeq, country director for Islamic Relief Lebanon, says.

“Today our team is delivering mattresses and blankets to new arrivals at some of the schools, and we will be providing displaced families with food.  We’re exhausting all efforts to deliver aid to those affected by this crisis. Every resource, every moment, is dedicated to reaching those in need,”

“Together, we strive to bring hope and relief to the most vulnerable and I give my heartfelt thanks to the team on the ground whose dedication and commitment make this possible.”

With Israeli attacks on Gaza continuing, Islamic Relief continues to call for a ceasefire across the region, and for all parties to respect international law and protect civilians. 

Islamic Relief has been a lifeline since the Lebanon War

Islamic Relief has been working in Lebanon since 2006, providing those affected by the Lebanon War with food, clean water and essential household items. After the conflict, we continued working in the country, helping rebuild shattered communities and lives. In 2020, a massive explosion in Beirut killed hundreds of people and destroyed parts of the city, contributing to an economic crisis that deepened in the following years. Widespread unemployment, poverty, and hyperinflation in Lebanon has left many families unable to afford even the basic essentials such as food, water, and medicine.

Now, the escalating attacks are adding to the suffering of families. So far, Islamic Relief’s aid has reached almost 28,000 people affected by this crisis – but many more need help and humanitarian conditions are rapidly deteriorating.

With the support of our incredible donors, Islamic Relief will continue to be a lifeline for people in desperate need in Lebanon.

Please support our lifesaving work: donate to our Lebanon Emergency Appeal now.