After a tense year of exchanging rockets and missiles back and forth across the Israel-Lebanon border, Israel has launched a full-scale attack on Lebanon in September 2024. Airstrikes have taken place throughout the country and entire villages have been told to evacuate towards the north of the country.
Just under 2,000 people have lost their lives, 6,300 have been injured, and many more have been forced to leave their homes – in the first two weeks since the attack alone. This also includes many of DCA’s staff whose homes are in the Southern part of the country which is most severely affected.
In response to these needs, DCA has converted all activities to support for the many civilians who find themselves sleeping in the open, in schools, or other spaces made available to them – to ensure they have food, water, mattresses, blankets, and other basic necessities – and are safe.
You can also help by donating to our work so we can reach even more people – and offer other types of support should the fighting continue to worsen, and more people forced to flee.
Donate here
| DKK | EUR* | USD* |
| 150 | 20 | 22 |
| 375 | 50 | 55 |
| 750 | 100 | 110 |
DCA’s Emergency Response – mid-October 2024
Lebanon has been suffering from a pro-longed economical and financial crises, poor service delivery, and poverty levels that have tripled in the last decade reaching some 44% of the population in 2024. In addition Lebanon has been hosting the largest number of displaced people per capita and per square kilometer in the world. According to UNOCHA 9 out of 10 people needed assistance with basic needs before the escalation of the conflict.
The needs in Lebanon are expected to rise drastically as the fighting continues.
Humanitarian situation
- The fatality toll continues to rise, with almost 2,600 people killed and more than 12,100 wounded in total since 8 October 2023 – with the majority of injuries and deaths occurring after 23 September 2024.
- Access to essential services is severely disrupted, damaging critical infrastructure. Since 23 September airstrikes have impacted 25 water establishments affecting access to clean water for nearly 300,000 people.
- National authorities estimate that over one million people have been displaced – many of them have been displaced multiple times since October 2023. Some 425,000 people are also estimated to have crossed into Syria from Lebanon, as of 28 October 2024.
- By 30 September 2024 the Lebanese government had opened around 41 shelters, 3 in Beirut, 18 in Mount Lebanon, 10 in Saida and Jezzine, 7 in Bekaa, 2 in Baalbeck, and 1 in Tripoli. It is expected that more shelters will be opened.
- Almost half the population (44%) was already below the poverty line in 2024, many suffering from food insecurity. This crisis is affecting Lebanese citizens along with the hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Palestinian refugees who live in areas under attack and already vulnerable.
- Before the September escalation – on 8 August – 72% of farmers reported loss of income and 1,700 hectares of land have been damaged. This is likely to increase – and further compound – food insecurity.
- Hospitals were operating with only basic necessities even before this crisis and do not have the resources to cope with a large-scale crisis.
- The situation is compounding the pre-existing, multi-layered crises Lebanon has been dealing with—from economic collapse to deteriorating infrastructure. Now, with the country in turmoil, the need for coordinated and immediate humanitarian action is greater than ever.
- DCA staff in Lebanon are on the ground responding and providing aid, closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with other entities responding on the ground.
About DCA Lebanon
DCA has been supporting Lebanese, Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon, Palestinian Refugees form Syria and other refugees since 2007.
DCA works in partnerships with local and national authorities, stakeholders, and national civil society organisations to implement humanitarian and development sectoral programming including:
- ensuring access to water, sanitation and health.
- (monetary) support for communities to help them identify local issues and implement relevant solutions.
- unrestricted cash assistance for displaced people to enable them to buy food and other necessities.
- support for farmers and micro entrepreneurs for improved livelihoods and increased food security.
- … and integrating support to people affected by gender based violence in all our work.
DCA has been responding to humanitarian needs in Lebanon through its Humanitarian Mine Action activities and has cleared over eight square kilometres of landmine-contaminated commercial and agricultural land in Mt Lebanon and along the Blue Line.