Lebanon is facing a new escalation of violence. Imagine having only minutes to leave your home, holding your children in your arms, with no idea where you will sleep that night. In recent days, thousands of families across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley have been forced to flee their homes after heavy bombardments. Entire neighbourhoods have been damaged or destroyed.

Many families left within minutes, carrying only what they could. Some ran into the streets without shoes. Others carried their sleeping children in their arms. Today, many of these families have nowhere to return.

A growing humanitarian crisis

Most of them are women, children and elderly people. Many families are now sleeping in: - schools - churches - community centres the homes of relatives or strangers. 

This is an urgent humanitarian crisis:

Children have lost access to school.

Parents have lost their jobs and sources of income. 

Elderly people and vulnerable families are left without stable shelter or access to basic services. 

For thousands of people, the coming days will determine whether they can find safety and basic support.

Most of them are women, children and elderly people.

What displaced families are facing today 

For many families, the reality of displacement is extremely difficult. Parents are trying to comfort frightened children while standing in long lines for food. Elderly people sleep on thin mattresses or directly on the floor. Several families often share a single room in temporary shelters. Many people have also lost access to basic healthcare and hospitals. And many children are struggling with fear and trauma after witnessing violence and losing their homes.

Many families now struggle to meet the most basic needs.

Photo by Nabil Ismail, kindly shared with us from Lebanon; these recent images reflect the current situation on the ground and were provided through our ongoing contact with partners in the country.

What families urgently need:

• access to urgent medical care

• food and safe drinking water

• access to urgent medical care

• hygiene kits and medicines

• temporary shelter and basic household supplies

• mattresses, blankets and clothing

• hygiene kits and medicines

• financial support after losing their livelihoods

• psychological support for people who lost loved ones in the conflict

What humanitarian aid looks like on the ground

Local humanitarian organisations are already working tirelessly to support displaced families.

The photos above show volunteers from our partner organisation, Caritas, preparing meals, distributing essential supplies, and helping provide shelter for families who have lost everything

These efforts help people survive the first days of displacement, but the scale of the crisis means that much more support is urgently needed.

How your donation will help

The Europe for Lebanon campaign is an international fundraising initiative created to support civilians affected by violence and displacement.

Your support will help provide immediate humanitarian assistance to families who have been forced to flee their homes.

Your donation can help meet some of the most urgent needs of displaced families.

Even a small contribution can make a real difference.

€10 can provide food and safe drinking water for a family forced to leave their home.

€20 can provide blankets, mattresses, and hygiene kits for people sleeping in temporary shelters.

€50 can help provide emergency medicines and urgent medical assistance for families who lost everything overnight.

€100 can help provide medical and psychological support for families coping with trauma, loss, and displacement.

Every contribution helps bring immediate relief to families facing an unexpected humanitarian crisis.

As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, local partners will respond to the most urgent needs of displaced families and vulnerable communities.

Please donate and share this campaign to help families who have lost everything.

Even a small act of solidarity can bring comfort, safety and hope to people in urgent need.

Who is behind the initiative?

The #EuropeForLebanon initiative is coordinated by the Maronite Missionary Foundation in Poland, in cooperation with Lebanon in Need, a Lebanese crisis committee and humanitarian partners working directly on the ground.

The foundation previously coordinated humanitarian aid after the Beirut port explosion in 2020, delivering assistance to the most affected communities. Today it is once again mobilising support for families suffering from the current crisis.

The campaign is supported by respected community leaders and humanitarian coordinators in Lebanon.

Among them are:

Aid will reach people in need through trusted local networks and community-based support systems, including volunteers, parish groups, educators, and humanitarian workers who are directly engaged with affected families.

Humanitarian partners

These networks include:

• Caritas Lebanon

• the Red Cross

• local parishes and schools

• local health clinics and medical outreach teams

• faith-based charities and relief groups

• youth and volunteer associations

• women’s community support groups

• local social service centres

• refugee support organisations

• grassroots neighbourhood initiatives

• local NGOs working in humanitarian relief.

These organisations are recognised by the Lebanese state and the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, helping ensure that aid is distributed transparently and reaches families most affected by the crisis.

Stand with Lebanon

Tonight, thousands of families in Lebanon will fall asleep in classrooms, churches and temporary shelters.

Many parents will stay awake, watching their children sleep on the floor, hoping tomorrow will be safer.

Your support can provide food, warmth and essential supplies for families who have lost everything.

Please donate and share this campaign.

Together, we can bring immediate help to people who need it most.

Authorisation to use the materials

All photos and materials used in this campaign are shared with the permission of our local partners in Lebanon and will also appear in transparency reports published on the Foundation’s website.