Lebanon is in the grip of the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East. In the wake of military escalations across much of the Middle East, hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel escalated dramatically on March 1st.

Civilians will bear the brunt of this escalation. Tens of thousands of families have already been displaced, and the situation on the ground is evolving each day. 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been delivering critical humanitarian services in Lebanon since 2012, and is responding to the latest escalation in violence.

Here’s what you need to know about Lebanon—and how you can help.

What is happening in Lebanon?

Airstrikes have targeted southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the Beirut-Mount Lebanon region. Evacuation orders have been issued for over 100 villages, prompting tens of thousands of families to flee with little warning.

This latest outbreak of violence marks the most serious deterioration in security conditions since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, and it is pushing an overwhelmed humanitarian system to the breaking point. 

More than 95,000 displaced people are registered in collective shelters nationwide. Total figures are expected to be much higher, with displacement rapidly escalating as the conflict develops. Hundreds of schools and public buildings have been converted into emergency shelters, while families are sleeping in cars along roadsides or crowding into small apartments with relatives.

Communities across Lebanon are gripped by fear as the violence spreads. The IRC urges an immediate cessation of hostilities and calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Displaced families camp out on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon.
Families have fled their homes and are sleeping outside or in their cars, with official shelters at full capacity. A displaced mother told the IRC, “I am struggling to find milk for my newborn. I am doing everything possible to keep her warm and protected”.
Photo: Dalia Al Mokdad for the IRC

Violence deepens an existing crisis in Lebanon

Lebanese families have endured a multi-year, compounded crisis that landed the country on the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist—an analysis of the countries most likely to experience a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. An economic collapse, destruction of public infrastructure and the fallout from violence between Israel and Hezbollah have left Lebanon extremely vulnerable, especially as the country hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world while international support wanes.

Economic collapse

Lebanon is facing one of the worst economic collapses in modern history. The Lebanese lira lost over 98% of its value between 2023 and early 2024, triggering hyperinflation and wiping out the savings of ordinary families. 

Today, approximately 80% of the population lives in poverty, lacking reliable access to healthcare, electricity and education. According to IRC protection monitoring conducted in December 2025, 81% of households facing eviction threats had already taken on debt just to cover basic costs—before this latest escalation.

Public infrastructure and services can’t meet needs

Prior to the latest escalation of war in the Middle East, an estimated 4.1 million people in Lebanon urgently needed humanitarian support. Israeli operations in late 2024 damaged 67 hospitals and forced over 150 health facilities to close, cutting off access to healthcare and critical support services for thousands. 

Families climb a rocky path as they flee violence in Lebanon.
Families flee their homes with little more than they can carry, following Israeli strikes on Lebanon in 2024.
Photo: Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images

Lebanon’s refugee community faces displacement—again

Lebanon hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Most live in extreme poverty and legal insecurity. These refugees, who have already fled conflict and rebuilt their lives in Lebanon, are among the newly displaced in this latest escalation. 

Approximately 11,000 people crossed from Lebanon into Syria in a single 24-hour period on March 4th, according to Syrian authorities.

A young displaced refugee, pictured on the street of Beirut, Lebanon.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are among the country’s most vulnerable.
Photo: Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images

Funding shortfalls persist, despite immense need

Even before this escalation in violence, Lebanon’s humanitarian response was catastrophically underfunded. Last year’s Humanitarian Response Plan received only a third of the funding it required. 

More than 4.1 million people—over 70% of Lebanon’s population—were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the March 2026 attacks on the country.

Humanitarian organizations urgently need flexible funding to scale up emergency response efforts, expand health and protection services, and provide cash assistance and basic relief items to families who fled with little or nothing.

How is the IRC responding in Lebanon?

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Lebanon since 2012 and reached more than 180,000 people across the country in 2025 with health, education, protection and livelihood services. 

Despite the volatile security situation, the IRC and its partners are mobilizing to respond to the urgent needs of displaced families and continuing our critical work. We focus on ensuring people can access essential health services, mental health support, emergency cash assistance, and protection services—with particular attention to children, women and survivors of violence.

A nurse gives a vaccine to a young girl in Lebanon.
Fatima receives a vaccine at an IRC-supported health clinic in Lebanon.
Photo: Iuna Vieira for the IRC

Our work across the Middle East

The IRC is closely monitoring the situation across the Middle East to understand the trajectory of displacement and humanitarian needs. Elsewhere across the region, including Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territory, our teams continue to deliver critical assistance while prioritizing the safety of staff and the communities we serve.

You can also share this article and information on the IRC’s emergency response with your network. Raising awareness about the Lebanon crisis helps build the public pressure and donor support that families urgently need.

More from the IRC

The International Rescue Committee has over 90 years of experience helping people affected by crisis in more than 40 countries to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We also help refugees and displaced people resettle and integrate into new communities in the U.S. and across Europe.

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