The Israeli army’s ground incursion into southern Lebanon and the intensifying bombardment in the Bekaa Valley and Beirut have triggered an unprecedented crisis, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. As cities like Saida and the capital overflow with displaced people, we are on the front lines providing essential aid: from distributing basic necessities and hygiene kits to offering psychological support for the most vulnerable.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is currently disastrous. Following the start of the ground incursion in the south, the Israeli army ordered all residents south of the Litani River to evacuate northward. This has marked a troubling escalation in the national crisis; the city of Saida, in particular, is seeing a massive influx of people fleeing the strikes.
Israeli military operations—both announced and unannounced—continue across southern Lebanon, south of Beirut, and in the Bekaa Valley, especially around Baalbek.
It remains unclear exactly how many people have been displaced, as the figures continue to rise by the hour. According to OCHA data from March 10 (via Reliefweb), current estimates indicate that 122,600 people are staying in 514 collective shelters across the country.
However, the total number of displaced individuals is significantly higher, as it is difficult to track those staying outside of official reception centers. Many are currently out on the streets in Saida and Beirut, while others are searching for safe accommodation—a task that is becoming increasingly difficult due to the sheer scale of the crisis.
The latest UNICEF report estimates that approximately 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in total, including roughly 200,000 children.
INTERSOS’ Response
Despite the fact that 90% of our staff in the south have been forced to relocate, we are actively coordinating a response within collective shelters. Our focus is on distributing essential goods, ensuring access to water and hygiene products, and carrying out minor emergency renovations to guarantee dignified living standards in these facilities.
Regarding our humanitarian protection activities, we are working to manage cases involving gender-based violence (GBV), minors, and individuals with special needs. Our teams are providing emergency psychological assistance, cash assistance, recreational activities for children, and hygiene kit distribution.
In parallel, we are exploring further options to scale up our response. In partnership with UNHCR, we have begun distributing basic necessities in collective shelters, primarily in Saida and Jezzine. We also plan to extend these distributions to shelters in the Chouf and Meten districts of the Mount Lebanon Governorate within the week.
In the Bekaa region, we are working to expand our protection activities to additional shelters. We are maintaining operations in Saida, Baalbek–Hermel, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon, and we stand ready to further broaden our reach as additional funding becomes available.