LEBANON: Church responding to deepening crisis, with 1.5 million displaced

One in four people in Lebanon have been displaced as a result of the ongoing war as the Church struggles to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for help.

Although Israeli airstrikes are focussed on Hezbollah targets, there is a constant risk of civilians becoming collateral damage, according to Marielle Boutros, Lebanon project coordinator at Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Ms Boutros said that those who have been forced to leave their homes in southern Lebanon because of the bombings and those caring for them are showing increasing signs of physical and psychological exhaustion.

She added that the Church has been quick to respond to the crisis, with many of those displaced fleeing to Christian areas.

She explained: “At the moment we have 1.5 million displaced people, that is one in every four citizens in the country, mostly concentrated in the Mount Lebanon region.

“They are welcomed in shelters such as schools, churches, retreat centres or private houses.

“They need everything: food, medication, water, clothes, sanitary products, because they left their houses very quickly and didn’t take things with them.”

ACN has provided emergency aid – including food and medicine – to support the relief efforts in Lebanon where about one third of the population is Christian.

Ms Boutros said that the Church had already worked hard to provide support to those in need before the war broke out as the country has been going through a crippling economic crisis for a number of years.

She added that IDPs (internally displaced persons) are bracing for an especially difficult winter because of the widespread destruction of infrastructure – and there is no way of knowing when the war will end and when people will be able to return to their homes in the southern regions.

ACN has stepped up its aid for the Church in Lebanon in response to the war, with 15 emergency projects helping the worst affected dioceses and the religious orders taking care of IDPs.

The charity’s help has included support for Catholic schools – which have remained open, although some have switched to online learning – and help with tuition fees for families because most schools in Lebanon are private.

Ms Boutros said: “If we want to strengthen Christian communities in the region, we have to focus on the Christian institutions in Lebanon.

“Besides all the pastoral work already being done by the dioceses and religious orders, the educational system is very important.

“If there is something standing in Lebanon right now, it is the Catholic schools.”

She added that those receiving help from ACN are extremely grateful, concluding: “We need to pray for these heroes – they must be strong in faith to be able to keep this up, because, although it is not their fight, they are living their faith to the end.”

 

With thanks to Filipe d’Avillez