If there is one trait the Lebanese take pride in, it is their solidarity in times of crisis. Whether it stems from the emotional and family-oriented nature of the Mediterranean population or the numerous local and international NGOs that have mobilized during the country’s recent years of hardship, many have rushed to support those displaced and affected by the latest Israeli war on Lebanon.
While it is no secret that vulnerability is often exploited particularly in the absence of reliable public governance, what stands out most is the spirit of friendship and interfaith cooperation that has transcended borders during this chaotic period, reflecting the depth of Lebanese generosity and adaptability.
Despite the challenges of political polarization, the shared experience of enduring adversity has solidified the foundations of vivre ensemble, a cornerstone of Lebanese identity. As newly elected President Joseph Aoun stated in his inaugural speech, “Lebanon is the witness of history, because religions are complementary, and because the people are one…Our identity, despite our diversity, is Lebanese.”
The Role of NGOs and Civil Society
Beit El Baraka, a major NGO founded in the wake of the October revolution and expanded significantly following the Beirut blast in 2020, has estimated the impact of the last two months of war. The organization reports $8.5 billion in damages and losses, including over $900 million in agricultural losses and 20 million square meters of burned land. Furthermore, 85 percent of factories in the affected areas have ceased operations, and 50,000 businesses have closed down.
Given that Lebanon already produces only 20 percent of its food consumption, the NGO has warned of a looming threat to national food security if the challenges faced by farmers and small producers as a direct consequence of the conflict are not addressed promptly.
In the absence of effective governmental structures within an already degraded socio-economic environment, solidarity efforts have persisted even after the ceasefire. Major Lebanese NGOs and associations continue to raise funds to sustain programs that go beyond immediate relief, focusing instead on empowering and dignifying the population.
The World Central Kitchen, currently managed by chef Aline Kamakian, founder of the renowned Armenian restaurant Mayrig, continues to provide 50,000 meals daily across the country. Similarly, Beit el Baraka and Tawlé, a well-known Lebanese restaurant and community kitchen, in collaboration with the Maternity and Childhood Association, still serve thousands of hot meals each day, albeit on a smaller scale than during the height of the conflict.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals remain unable to return to their homes, either because they have been destroyed or because the Israeli authorities have not yet permitted their return. While many reside in temporary shelters or rented accommodations, community-led solutions are increasingly being developed in collaboration with local municipalities.
Beyond relief efforts, the education and healthcare sectors have been severely impacted by the war. Life, an association of diaspora professionals primarily focused on supporting education and entrepreneurship, is actively fundraising as it aims to support students in private and semi-private schools. “We consider education a necessity, not a luxury,” says Zeina Farhat, the charity director at Life. She also points out the challenge of “donor fatigue” as ongoing appeals for Lebanon’s persistent needs strain contributors amidst an unchanged political landscape. However, the recent election of a new President and the appointment of a Prime Minister may signal a potential shift, albeit in a more challenging financial climate.
The war’s impact on livelihoods has rendered many previously self-sufficient individuals vulnerable, while those struggling have fallen into even deeper hardship. “The big problem is medical aid,” says Brother Toufic, the Franciscan Parish priest of the Latins in Tyre, Southern Lebanon. “The healthcare and medicine budget consumes all the aid you get for one family. Before the war, many of these families could sustain themselves with medicine; not anymore.”
He also points out that some foreign aid fails to reach its intended recipients due to administrative mismanagement and persistent corruption. For instance, Brother Toufic was forced to reject a donation of four tons of clothes from a Syrian entrepreneur because customs imposed exorbitant fees, even though it was a donation. “The authorities at the border did not want to hear anything despite many interventions,” he explains, adding that boxes of medicine addressed to the Parish were confiscated at the airport and never reached him.
The effectiveness of the support provided to the Lebanese population through the emergency framework established during the Paris international conference on October 24th remains uncertain, particularly given the challenges of aid delivery. Israeli attacks have, in some cases, prevented assistance from reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Since October 21, 2024, six health centers in South Lebanon have been forced to close, and 45 attacks on medical facilities have claimed the lives of 95 medical staff and injured 77 others, according to Solidarités International. Among the destroyed facilities is one of Amel Association International’s centers in Nabatiyeh, South Lebanon.
Stories of Resilience and Unity
Medical doctors and major hospitals in Beirut and in the mountains have mobilized during the war, particularly following the pager attack, treating and operating on thousands of injured individuals without demanding the usual insurance or cash guarantees. However, practitioners have noted that this generous approach could not be sustained in the long run.
Although the Ministry of Health was theoretically responsible for covering these interventions financially, it has a reputation for taking years to fulfill its commitments. As a result, the burden has shifted to individual initiatives, acts of generosity, and the support of civil society networks and NGOs.
The collective effort during the war has not only empowered individuals but also fostered unexpected relationships and bonds among communities. Murielle, a French Christian woman married to a Lebanese man, runs a guesthouse in the Christian Kesrouan mountains. During the war, she rented rooms to several displaced Shia families from the South and the Beqaa.
Reflecting on the experience, she shares that she ended up developing real friendships with some of them: “They taught me how to prepare olives—their way is not ours—and also how to cook fatté, their way,” she says. “Those were beautiful moments, and I know we will stay friends. Before they left, one of the families gave me a beautiful crystal rosary, which they had originally received as a gift from Ephesus in Turkey. I consider this a huge compliment.”
Another family from the Beqaa, whose child was undergoing leukemia treatment at a hospital in Beirut, chose to stay at Murielle’s guesthouse until his treatment was complete. “We trust them so much that we left them in the house when my husband and I had to travel for personal reasons,” Murielle explains.
The child’s father, a charismatic man, quickly integrated into the village community. He used the time to network for his business and contributed by repairing broken lighting in the area. In recognition of his efforts, the municipality promised to involve him in a larger project in the future.
Franciscan Father Toufic shared a similar positive experience with the displaced families, most of whom came from Shia areas. He recounted how Christian and Muslim youth volunteered together in the parish, forging strong bonds. “We’ve built a beautiful relationship,” says Father Toufic. “When they left, we exchanged phone numbers, and we’ve stayed in touch. They call me not to ask for help but just to say hello and ask about me. When they first arrived, there was a strange feeling, perhaps they were afraid, they didn’t know how they would be received. But misery has united us, I hope prosperity will not divide us.”
In addition to the schools and convents in Christian areas, which are considered safe, opened their doors to displaced families regardless of their faith, many affluent Lebanese also welcomed them into vacant apartments they owned. Youth, in particular, often took spontaneous personal initiatives to alleviate the suffering of the displaced, so that they felt genuinely supported, valued, and safe.
However, Franciscan Brother Félicien, from Saint Antoine Parish in Sin el Fil, a suburb of Beirut , expressed concern about the “short windows of attention that move with every new event—like after the Beirut blast in 2020—and reminds of the necessity of not forgetting the vulnerable population that has been in need for years due to the economic and financial crises and of continuing to attend it constantly”. In his parish, they have been consistently cooking for and assisting families without interruption for years.
Civil society and NGOs cannot replace a modern state and the rule of law, which are essential for protecting citizens and ensuring their dignity through access to social security, education, and retirement pensions for all. As Zeina Mohanna, board member and executive of Amel Association International, pointed out, “Lebanon has long lacked a comprehensive social protection system that ensures inclusivity for all ages and segments of the population. (…) Unfortunately, the country continues to struggle with a severe shortage of essential resources needed to ensure the survival and well-being of its people today.”
In his speech, the newly elected president has committed to “promote and expand social protection networks in particular social security and health services” and “to fight against economic injustice”. The steps his yet-to-be-formed government will take in this regard are eagerly awaited.
Cover photo: World Central Kitchen, currently managed by chef Aline Kamakian, founder of the famous Armenian restaurant Mayrig, continues to provide 50,000 meals per day across Lebanon. Picture by World Central Kitchen.
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