Ceasefire reached in Lebanon, but challenges persist

27 November 2024 – A ceasefire announced this morning in Lebanon offers opportunity for children and families to rebuild their lives, but it must last, international humanitarian organisation World Vision warns today.

As of 26 November in Lebanon, almost 4000 people have been killed, and more than a million children and families have fled their homes after a sudden upsurge in violence since the end of September. Homes, hospitals and critical infrastructure have been damaged, and many children have been left out of school as their classrooms were converted into emergency shelters.

“This morning, families woke up to the news of a ceasefire in Lebanon,” Heidi Diedrich, World Vision Lebanon National Director, says. “The past year – and especially the past two months – have taken a dramatic toll with over 200 children killed. In South Lebanon, entire villages are reported as totally destroyed. We hope and pray that this ceasefire lasts and that the more than 1 million displaced will be able to safely return home. Yet, we also know that rebuilding will take years.

“Our work across Lebanon provides food, safe drinking water, and essential winter supplies in response to this crisis, serving more than 200,000 people since late September,” Diedrich noted “This current crisis is on the heels of five exceptionally difficult years for the country, from the 2019 economic turmoil to the Beirut blast and COVID-19. We will be steadfast in supporting all affected communities every step of the way, expanding our support with food and safe drinking water to supporting economic inclusion and ensuring children can access remote learning and mental health services. The ceasefire must hold for Lebanon and its people so that children and families can start their journey toward healing and rebuilding.”

World Vision emphasises that this ceasefire will be of limited value if it does not lead to a sustainable end to hostilities in all contexts affected by the violence. As well as peace, families need resources to rebuild and restore livelihoods. There must be an end to violence and consistent, unfettered humanitarian access in West Bank and Gaza as well, so aid can immediately reach the most vulnerable children, still experiencing the devastating impact of the conflict.

Humanitarian needs throughout the region have reached catastrophic proportions over the past 13 months. Children are the ones who have been disproportionately affected by the direct and indirect impacts of the conflict and are the ones who will bear the long-lasting physical and mental scars of the violence.

“We pray that there will be an end to this violence across the entire region, where devastating shockwaves from the conflict are still being felt by millions of children,” says Eleanor Monbiot, World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional Leader. “We long to hear the sounds of understanding, healing, and compassion rather than guns and bombs. We appeal for all parties to find a way to end violence and scale up humanitarian aid and access, so lives can be saved, children protected from indiscriminate violence and forced displacement, hostages released, and lifesaving humanitarian assistance can reach the most vulnerable. As always, we pray for an end to violence – and that children can be given the chance to reach their God-given potential in life.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

World Vision has been working in Lebanon and West Bank for 50 years, and has been rapidly responding to increased needs as the conflict continues to escalate and more people are directly impacted. During the first year of the response, World Vision reached almost 700,000 children and families in the West Bank and Lebanon, rapidly scaling up support each time the violence escalated. This included delivering hot meals, food kits and cash assistance so families were able to eat; supporting schools with repairs; providing students e-learning support; increasing mental health and psychosocial capacity; equipping safe spaces in communities, including strengthening local health clinics and providing fire-fighting equipment; and enabling access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene needs.

The latest Lebanon SitRep is available here.

For more information please contact: World Vision’s Middle East Crisis Response

Communications Director, Kate Shaw, kate_shaw@wvi.org
Karla Harvey at karla.harvey@worldvision.org or phone +44 7889 631613.