New York, NY, April 8, 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the announcement of a two week ceasefire, as well as the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. This follows weeks of devastating violence that has displaced millions and killed thousands across Iran, Lebanon and the wider region, while disrupting critical supply routes compounding humanitarian needs globally. With over 1.3 million people forced from their homes and more than 1,500 killed in Lebanon, we remain deeply alarmed that Lebanon has been excluded from the ceasefire.
David Miliband, President and CEO of IRC, said:
“The announcement of a two-week ceasefire is a welcome step but it is partial, fragile, and incomplete. Most urgently, it does not include Lebanon, where I visited IRC programs last week and where airstrikes, evacuation orders and active hostilities not only continue to threaten civilians but intensify. A ceasefire that leaves one front of the conflict burning risks prolonging the crisis, not resolving it.
“The war in Iran has already triggered a dangerous domino effect, spreading humanitarian need, economic shock, and instability across the region and beyond. This moment must be used to expand the ceasefire, ensure the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and other critical routes remain open to allow scaled-up humanitarian aid and essential supplies to reach those in need, and to stabilize economies under strain. Without that, the gap between rising needs and shrinking resources will only deepen. Civilians must be given the space to begin rebuilding their lives with dignity which can only happen if there is a permanent cessation in hostilities.”
In Lebanon, the IRC is supporting displaced families with essential relief items, as well as psychosocial support and referrals to counselling hotlines for those coping with trauma.