In Lebanon, despite the announced ceasefire, the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli bombardments continue to take a heavy toll on the population: most of those forced to flee their homes during the months of bombardment and insecurity have returned to their home areas; however, for many families, this return does not mark the end of the emergency.

The situation remains particularly precarious, especially in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Damaged homes, compromised infrastructure and difficulties in accessing essential services such as water, electricity and healthcare continue to hinder a stable recovery. Added to these challenges are restrictions on movement, the presence of explosive remnants of war and new Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, which continue to pose a risk to the population and to limit the possibility of safe and sustainable returns.

RETURNING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO REALLY RETURN

It is estimated that around 360,000 people remain internally displaced. For many families, ‘returning’ therefore means moving closer to their town or village without yet being able to actually return to their own homes.

The situation is further complicated by the gradual reduction in the number of collective reception centres set up by the Lebanese government, many of which are housed in state schools. The affected communities therefore continue to need temporary accommodation and adequate support to enable them to remain close to their home areas in safety.

The words of Zaynab Ghazaleh, Project Coordinator at Un Ponte Per, convey the drama of those days:

"On 8 April, everything spiralled out of control so quickly. In the space of a few minutes, more than 100 air strikes targeted various areas of Lebanon. My family and I had already been displaced from our village when we heard the explosions again: nowhere is truly safe. The phones wouldn’t stop ringing. Everyone was trying to find out if their loved ones were still alive. Hundreds of people were killed, thousands injured. These aren’t just numbers: they are families, they are children, they are people who are simply trying to stay alive."

FROM LOCAL NEEDS TO ACTION

In response to the serious escalation of the conflict that has affected Lebanon since March 2026, Un Ponte Per launched the ‘Immediate Emergency Support for Displaced Population in Lebanon’ project as part of its emergency response; the project concluded in September 2026.

The valuable contribution from the Waldensian Church’s ‘Otto per Mille’ funds has made it possible to launch the project and strengthen support for displaced families housed in collective shelters, tailoring the response to the needs that emerged during the emergency. At the same time, the ongoing support of donors has helped to underpin the wider emergency response, complementing Un Ponte Per’s commitment to supporting the population affected by the conflict.

Among the project’s achievements, thanks to the efforts of our local staff who continued to work despite the dangerous conditions, we were able to reach around 2,000 people in the areas of Beirut, Sidon and northern Lebanon.  The interventions included the distribution of 474 hygiene kits, comprising menstrual hygiene products (around 313 kits), as well as over 450 nappies for the care of children and the elderly. Alongside these distributions, 10 first-aid kits were supplied to reception centres to strengthen their capacity to respond to immediate healthcare needs, together with the distribution of 19 baby kits for children up to the age of 3.

Experiencing conflict, being forced to suddenly leave one’s home and spending prolonged periods in collective accommodation can have a significant impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. For this reason, the psychological and social consequences of displacement on younger people have been given particular attention within the project through the organisation of recreational activities incorporating elements of light psychosocial support, creating opportunities within the shelters for socialising, participation and sharing, where they can rediscover moments of normality and connection even amidst a situation of great instability.

In a country already scarred by years of economic, political and social crisis, the emergency caused by the latest escalation of the conflict has further worsened the living conditions of thousands of families. Continuing to work alongside local organisations and communities remains essential to developing responses that are grounded in people’s real needs and can adapt to a constantly changing situation.