Mariam*, 34, a mother of three, was forced to flee her home during the recent escalation in Lebanon. One of her children lives with thalassaemia, making access to healthcare critical. Before displacement, Mariam’s* family lived modestly but with dignity, relying on a limited income while managing her child’s condition. Their home represented safety, stability, and belonging.
“When everything started, we didn’t have time to think,” Mariam* says. “I left in the dark. I didn’t take anything. I only counted my children and ran.”
Her experience reflects that of thousands of families displaced suddenly, without preparation or warning. Many fled under immediate threat, leaving behind their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. Among them are elderly individuals who spent their lives working their land, now displaced overnight, and families with urgent medical needs struggling to access care.
“I left in the dark. I didn’t take anything. I only counted my children and ran”
Basmeh & Zeitooneh teams responding on the ground are providing emergency support to displaced communities through food parcels, hygiene kits, and hot meals while also monitoring urgent needs in overcrowded shelters. Through direct engagement, the response prioritizes dignity and immediate survival needs.
Mariam* now lives in a shared shelter where conditions are extremely difficult. “We are 28 people in one room,” she explains. “We only received a few blankets. The rest of us sleep in our clothes to stay warm.”
Access to basic services remains limited. Clean water, electricity, and adequate sanitation are insufficient. Families often wait in line for long periods to access shared bathrooms. “At the end of the day, your home was your refuge,” Mariam* says. “Now, we wait just to use the bathroom.”
Food insecurity is another pressing issue. “We want to cook, but there are no ingredients, no rice, nothing,” she adds. “Even the food distributed is sometimes not suitable for children.”
“At the end of the day, your home was your refuge”
The emotional toll of displacement is equally severe. “We are not okay,” Mariam* shares. “On the outside, we continue for our children. But inside, everything has changed.” Many displaced individuals express a deep sense of loss, fear, and uncertainty, alongside the erosion of dignity that comes with dependency on aid.
Despite these hardships, Mariam* remains hopeful. “We only ask for one thing, to return to our homes and our lives,” she says.
Her story highlights the urgent need for sustained humanitarian support that goes beyond immediate relief. Priority needs include access to clean water, consistent medical care, especially for vulnerable individuals, adequate food, and essential non-food items such as blankets and hygiene supplies.
Ensuring that displaced communities are not only supported but heard is critical. Locally led responses remain key to reaching those most in need, restoring dignity, and strengthening resilience in the face of the ongoing crisis.
“We only ask for one thing, to return to our homes and our lives”
Written By: Chris Ghafary
*Names have been changed to protect identities