New York, NY, April 16, 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a critical and long-overdue reprieve for civilians who have endured weeks of unrelenting violence. Since the escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in March, more than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon with thousands more injured and over a million displaced, underscoring the devastating human cost of continued violence.
This ceasefire must be used as a vital opportunity to protect civilians, ensure sustained humanitarian access, and lay the foundations for a lasting and durable peace. This ceasefire remains fragile and a permanent end to the hostilities is the only way to protect civilians’ safety and allow them to begin rebuilding their lives. All parties must now demonstrate restraint and commit to a political pathway that prevents further loss of life and addresses the root causes of the conflict.
David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC said: “A ten-day ceasefire is a vital respite for civilians, but must be more than a temporary pause. After weeks of war, 1.3 million people in Lebanon have been driven from their homes, including Syrian refugees who already fled conflict once and now have been forced to flee again. What is needed now is an urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance, unfettered humanitarian access, and a pathway to a permanent cessation of hostilities. Anything less risks condemning civilians to renewed violence, and protracted and repeated displacement. The international community must act now to turn this fragile window into a sustainable peace.”
A ceasefire creates a narrow but critical opportunity to scale up life-saving assistance. The IRC is working to reach displaced families with essential relief, as well as health services, psychosocial support and referrals to counselling hotlines for those coping with trauma.