Bonn/Berlin, September 27, 2024. More and more people are fleeing to other parts of the country or back to Syria following the ongoing air raids in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley. In the past seven days alone, the number of displaced women, men, and children has risen by 104,000, increasing the total number of internally displaced people (IDP) to around 215,000. In response to the humanitarian crisis, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is expanding its ongoing emergency aid for displaced people in southern Lebanon and making an additional EUR 200,000 (approx. USD 233,000) available.
“As battles rage, people flee out of fear that their house could be struck by a bomb. They seek protection in long-defunct schools, informal settlements, or relatives’ homes. Having fled in panic, many now own little more than the clothes on their back. In their current accommodations, shortages are widespread, especially in terms of mattresses, food, and hygiene supplies,” says Tommaso Portogalli, area manager of WHH in Lebanon, describing the situation.
