Caritas Australia reports the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate rapidly, with mass displacement, mounting civilian casualties, and growing constraints on humanitarian access following renewed escalation earlier this month.

As of March 19, more than 968 people have been killed and more than 2400 injured. More than one million people have been forced from their homes, with over 132,000 people in emergency shelters. Many others have sought refuge with host families or in informal settings. 

Public schools and university campuses have been repurposed as shelters, interrupting education across the country.

The scale of need comes amid ongoing economic hardship and pre-existing vulnerabilities, compounding the impact on communities already struggling to access essential services. 

In response, Caritas Lebanon teams have delivered nearly 98,000 services to over 114,000 people between March 2-16.

This assistance includes:

• Food support, including more than 66,000 hot meals
• Shelter and non-food items, such as clothing, mattresses, bedding, and diapers 
• Health and mental health services, including 2500 medical consultations and more than 1000 psychosocial interventions
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, including hygiene kits and bottled water
• Protection and education support, including child case management and remote learning support for children with disabilities

Extensive damage to roads and bridges also continues to severely hinder humanitarian access and service delivery. 

Despite these significant access constraints, a joint humanitarian convoy reached southern border villages, supporting communities affected by ongoing hostilities.

Caritas Australia has joined 15 of Australia’s leading charities for a joint Middle East Appeal under the Emergency Action Alliance (EAA). 

The EAA Middle East appeal aims to raise millions of dollars in aid for people in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank who are facing an escalating humanitarian crisis in the wake of the military action launched in the region in early March. 

Caritas Australia also continues to support and stand in solidarity with Caritas Lebanon, and partners across the Middle East, providing emergency services to those in need.