Hundreds of thousands of children across Lebanon have endured the distress of repeated displacement. First uprooted during the 2024 hostilities, many are now facing the same uncertainty all over again.

Preliminary estimates suggest that, of the more than 1 million people internally displaced due to the current crisis, approximately 350,000 are children1. Of these, over 45,000 children are currently living in collective shelters—primarily repurposed schools—across the country.

While these shelters provide immediate safety, they are often overcrowded, under-resourced, and lack privacy. Families are forced to share confined spaces with strangers, where together they are expected to navigate not only a lack of access to basic needs but also the cumulative psychological strain of repeated displacement.

This policy brief draws on interviews conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with caregivers living in collective shelters in the first weeks of the current escalations. It highlights how repeated displacement and shelter conditions are reshaping children’s emotional wellbeing, behavior, and development. It also puts forward actionable recommendations to address the immediate and longer-term needs of affected children and their caregivers.

Available documents & links