Organizations working in southern Lebanon have been forced to suspend vital refugee and host community services following an escalation in attacks by Israeli forces, ActionAid said today.
ActionAid’s partner, The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), which works in the Bekaa Valley, has had to suspend its activities due to the escalating violence. RDFL runs two centers providing essential protection services for Palestinian and Syrian refugees, as well as host communities in Lebanon. People in desperate need of assistance are too afraid to leave their homes amidst the ongoing conflict.
Malak, Safe Space Officer from The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), ActionAid’s partner in West Bekaa Valley, said:
“A significant displacement is underway, with many families fleeing to Jeb Jennine, which is seen as safer than the surrounding villages. Schools are being converted into shelters for the displaced, and the air is filled with the constant sound of ambulances. There’s a growing concern that the situation may worsen in the coming hours.”
The attacks have left over 270 people dead and more than 1,000 people injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health and media reports.
Evacuation orders have been issued to families in the Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon, who are being forced to flee their homes under bombardment. With attacks taking place further and further from the border, families have no choice but to travel north to seek safety in Beirut, and gas stations are crowded with people trying to refuel their cars in an effort to escape. Malak said:
“People are arriving with nothing after being forced to abandon their homes. Their immediate needs must be addressed urgently. Our priority is ensuring their safety and providing shelter – whether through temporary accommodation in shelters, hotels, or with host families – and ensuring security, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. We are currently assessing their urgent needs and will do everything we can to support them.”
ActionAid urges all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians in line with international humanitarian law and to halt hostilities immediately. The international community must act swiftly to de-escalate the situation and ensure urgent humanitarian aid reaches those most affected by the violence.
ENDS
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About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working with more than 41 million people living in more than 71 of the world’s poorest countries. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty.