IRC - International Rescue Committee Inc.
IRC - International Rescue Committee Inc.
08/16/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Humanitarian Agencies Call For an Urgent End to the Conflict in Lebanon
Media contacts
Elias Abu Ata
Regional Senior Communications and Media Manager
+962 (0) 779 981 853
August 16, 2024 - The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) and the Lebanon Humanitarian and Development NGO Forum (LHDF), are deeply alarmed by the escalating conflict in Lebanon. Since October 2023, a startling 102,523 civilians have been displaced from their homes, and 101 civilians have been killed, including 20 children. Further, civilian infrastructure has been severely damaged, including 3,000 buildings, 1,700 hectares of agricultural land, 14 water facilities, and 6 health facilities. 1
We call on all those with influence over parties to the conflict to use that influence to work towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the conflict in Lebanon.
For now, we are making all efforts necessary to be ready to respond to an escalation of conflict. Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world. Populations have already been impacted by a political and economic crisis which is driving a dire situation.2 As humanitarians, we are committed to alleviating the plight of vulnerable populations across Lebanon, and we are dedicated to continuing to respond to the essential needs of people affected by the escalating conflict.
As such we call on the international community to ensure:- the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure
- the protection of humanitarian workers, including first responders 3
- that humanitarian operations are facilitated and carried out without obstruction 4
- that essential supplies, including food, medical care, fuel and life-saving material reach affected populations across Lebanon
The situation demands immediate attention and coordinated efforts to avoid the further destabilization of Lebanon with wider ramifications for the region, and to bring an end to human suffering.
The Lebanon Humanitarian and Development NGOs Forum (LHDF), created in 2014, is an independent entity, composed of over 90 local and national humanitarian and development NGOs operating in Lebanon across a wide range of sectors, facilitating coordination between them and with other relevant stakeholders to have an efficient response to both humanitarian and development needs in the country.
The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) is an informal and independent coordinating body comprised of 69 international NGOs (INGOs) who are working to address the needs of vulnerable individuals, families and communities throughout Lebanon.