Source: World Vision
World Vision New Zealand is calling for urgent international action as renewed conflict in Lebanon has forced more than 94,000 people, including thousands of children, from their homes.
The surge in hostilities has centred on southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, with more than 12,000 families displaced, and numbers rising every day.
World Vision warns that more than one million children already in need of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon are now at even greater risk.
World Vision New Zealand Country Programme Manager, Andy Robinson, says the images emerging from Lebanon are devastating, but New Zealanders can help.
“Thousands of children in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes in a very short space of time, and are facing an uncertain future, currently living in over-crowded collective shelters.
“The sound of rockets and missile explosions has become part of their childhood, which should never be normal. New Zealanders should not accept this as normal either. It’s a really scary time. Right now, World Vision and other NGOs are working around the clock to support vulnerable children and families, but we urgently need more support to reach all of those who need our help.”
Robinson says World Vision’s teams in Lebanon responded within hours of this week’s escalation in violence, delivering hot meals and ready-to-eat food to more than 36,000 displaced people living in collective shelters.He says the organisation is also adapting its school nutrition programme to ensure children sheltering in emergency centres have enough to eat.
Children bearing the heaviest burden
World Vision warns that children caught in the crisis face compounding harms, including psychological trauma, disrupted schooling, family separation, and deteriorating living conditions.
Many have already lived through multiple rounds of conflict, and Lebanon’s decade-long economic collapse has stripped away what little safety net remained.
Families are crowding into collective shelters where overcrowding and instability are taking a further toll on children’s mental health and sense of security.
Robinson says needs are rapidly outpacing capacity.
“All children deserve to grow up in a community shaped by peace, not conflict. We urgently call on all parties to protect children and civilians and to prevent further harm to their safety, wellbeing and future.”
World Vision New Zealand is scaling up its emergency response in Lebanon and is calling on the New Zealanders to help support children affected by this current spike in violence.
Funds will support food assistance, safe spaces, psychosocial support, and access to education for displaced children. To donate or for more information, visit worldvision.org.nz
Notes:
World Vision has worked in Lebanon for more than 50 years, delivering humanitarian assistance and development programmes for vulnerable children and families.
Its work includes emergency food support, education, child protection, clean water, healthcare and psychosocial services in some of the country’s most fragile communities.
