Christian families in the Beqaa Valley, eastern Lebanon have welcomed thousands of displaced people in their homes, according to Maronite Archbishop Hanna Rahmé.

Maronite Archbishop Hanna Rahmé of Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar in the Beqaa Valley told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that parts of his archdiocese have been under daily bombardment, forcing about 13,000 people to flee to predominantly Catholic areas.

Archbishop Rahmé said: “Each of the Christian families in the villages around Deir El-Ahmar has welcomed three or four displaced families, that is, between 30 and 60 people… We are choked by the number of internally displaced people, but we can’t leave them to their fate – we are not Christians just for ourselves, but for everyone.”

He added that the homes of Christian families are open to “people in the zones under bombardment – Christians and Muslims alike”, and Muslims seeking shelter “are enormously touched by this Christian solidarity”.

He explained that around 5,000 of those fleeing have been taken in by families, while thousands of others have found temporary accommodation in schools and Church-owned buildings – but many people have nowhere to go and have been sleeping rough.

The archbishop said that the Israeli military has been targeting Hezbollah bases around the city of Baalbek – but villages where Christians and Muslims live peacefully side-by-side have also been hit.

He added that his top priority was providing support for displaced people and the families hosting them – most of whom are impoverished and struggling themselves.

He explained: “The NGOs on the scene are helping the displaced people in the schools, but not those welcomed by families or the families themselves. Nobody is helping them. This is why the archdiocese is taking care of them.”

He concluded: “The situation is very critical. We urgently need food aid, mattresses and blankets – and we are very grateful that ACN immediately offered vital aid. Please stay at our side. If we carry this together, we will be able to do great things. May the Lord bless you.”

In the past months, ACN aid has included food parcels for thousands of families and medical help for 1,200 people. The charity is accepting donations for more emergency projects in Lebanon in response to the escalating armed conflict and the resulting mass displacement.