Lebanon
humanitarian action
Lebanon’s Growing Needs
Lebanon is facing a humanitarian crisis with multiple drivers. On one hand, the political and economic instability have been resulting in increased unemployment, inflation and poverty. Since October 2023, the escalation of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel has displaced about 900,000 people, disrupting their livelihoods and increasing their needs for shelter, food, and cash assistance.
The country also hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Almost the entire Syrian population in Lebanon lives on an income that does not cover basic needs. Around 27% of Syrian refugees in the country are food-insecure.
Our work in Lebanon
We have been in Lebanon since 2019, providing different services for vulnerable children and their families from both Lebanon as well as from Syria. Children can experience traumatic things and have all their daily activities and connections disrupted. They miss their normal life. Their school. Their friends. It is important that they are well protected and helped.
In 2019, the “Back to the Future” project provided a protective and nurturing environment to increase access to school, inclusion and retention for Syrian refugee children impacted by war, and to vulnerable Lebanese.
We provided a safe place for children. They received special psychosocial help and education in child-friendly spaces. Together with their families and communities, they can process their difficult experiences and learn to deal with their new circumstances. They can also make up for missed school lessons.
We help as many children as possible
On the 4th August 2020, the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was struck by an explosion leaving thousands of people injured, and tens of thousands of families instantly homeless. Children have lost their parents, and food and medicine supplies have been disrupted.
From day 1, Terre des Hommes immediately started working to assess the needs of children, and provide emergency aid to affected children and their families. We provided psychological support and recreational activities. The psychological sessions provided stress-relieving games that could be recreated at home without extra financial expenses for the family members to play together. “I don’t have toys at home” mentions one of the project participants. “We play the game of the chairs. All the children have the right to play these games”.
We also distributed cash and hygiene kits in the most affected neighbourhoods, and helped children get back to school.
Project
She Leads Lebanon
In Lebanon, social and gender norms, shrinking civic space, and discriminatory laws contribute to upholding gender inequalities and discourage girls and young women from speaking out. Formal and informal youth-led organisations and women-led organisations are facing a growing pressure from discriminatory social institutions, political figures, and religious leaders, that restrict their access to resources and opportunities.
Terre des Hommes uses a gender transformative approach that aims at eliminating the structural barriers to gender equality, tackling the root causes of gender inequalities, working at all levels.
Our partners in Lebanon
Together with experienced partners we are working towards a world without child exploitation, where young people can feel safe today and better about tomorrow.
Join our fight.
EU Madad Fund
The EU Trust Fund ‘Madad’ provides concrete assistance for refugees and host communities for basic education and child protection, training and higher education, better access to healthcare, improved water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as support for projects promoting resilience, economic opportunities and social inclusion in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
Giro555
Giro555 is a unique collaboration of ten aid organisations: CARE Netherlands, Cordaid, Kerk in Actie, Netherlands Red Cross, Oxfam Novib, Plan International, Stichting Vluchteling, Terre des Hommes, UNICEF Netherlands, World Vision. The organisations have united in the ‘Stichting Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties’. We have one goal, run one campaign together and use one account number to collect donations. This is how we keep campaign costs down. By joining forces, we can make a huge difference for the people affected.
War Child Holland
War Child works exclusively to improve the lives of children affected by conflict. We work directly with children, the important adults in their lives and the communities around them to provide vital psychosocial support, education and child protection services. Our integrated programmes are designed to boost children’s resilience and promote their psychosocial well-being, as well participation in, and protection by, their communities.