As deadly violence escalated in Lebanon, Mennonite Central Committee partners worked to provide emergency relief and support for people caught in the conflict.

By Oct. 10, MCC had three partners responding to urgent needs: Iman Sadr Foundation, Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training and Popular Aid for Relief and Development. All three organizations have quickly mobilized emergency responses to help as many of the 1.2 million displaced Lebanese as they can.

— Iman Sadr Foundation provided ready-to-eat emergency food to approximately 6,000 displaced people who were not able to find a shelter in the south of Lebanon.

— Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training did the same, providing emergency, ready-to-eat meals for nearly 10,000 displaced Lebanese outside of shelters in central Lebanon.

— Popular Aid for Relief and Development sheltered more than 400 people in a school in Sidon and providing hygiene items, bedding, hot meals, health services and psychosocial support for children.

Hoda Houssari, a member of MCC’s staff in Lebanon, said the ready-to-eat food was essential for displaced families who lack access to kitchens.

“Since the needs are so high right now, we’re trying to be one of the first responders,” she said. “We’re providing ready-to-eat meals, which could be, for instance, a can of beans. You can open it whenever and eat it directly without the need to cook it. This is essential because a lot of people don’t have access to utensils or cooking methods. At least for the first two, three weeks, this will be a challenge, so everything is ready to eat.”

Due to an economic crisis since 2019, many Lebanese lack the financial resources to flee to safety. If they do manage to pay for transportation to safer areas, they leave with little more than the clothes on their backs. Fuel, food, medicine, hygiene items or clothes have become luxuries many cannot afford.

Houssari said the destruction in Lebanon was so widespread that even if the fighting stopped immediately, the country would be in a state of crisis for a long time.

“If they signed the cease-fire today, where are the people who are sitting in the shelters going to go?” she asked. “They have no place to go to. Some of them may be lucky enough to still have their houses there, but a lot of them won’t. Most of the people rely on their land, and farmers have lost their livelihoods.”

Deadly violence continued Oct. 14, as an Israeli airstrike killed at least 21 people in the Lebanese village of Aitou.