Yasmina | Staff Writer

The expansion of the conflict between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel in September of 2024 led to over 1.2 million people displaced with no food or shelter. It was local initiatives and NGOs that assisted many of the displaced, offering them fundamental necessities. Since the economic recession in 2019, Lebanese civil society has played a crucial role in compensating for the limited capacity of the state in response to the humanitarian crisis. In times of war where everyone is affected, true humanitarian heroes emerge. They sacrifice so much to help others. Their efforts highlight the resilience of Lebanese society. Here is a list of some of the NGOs that played a pivotal role.

War Child, an emergency initiative based in Beirut since 2006, offered shelter to affected families and provided them with education and mental health support. According to a report by War Child, by November 11, the organization reached approximately 2,500 children, providing essential services such as hygiene kits, hot meals, and mental health support. Even after the ceasefire, they are working relentlessly on assisting families who still carry the burden of displacement. They have opened new funds to call for action and donations, such as War Child’s Children’s Emergency Fund, to continue their efforts.

AUB’s Neighborhood Initiative supported local communities and the displaced families that temporarily resided in the area through various programs. These programs focused on providing the primary and essential services which included the distribution of food packages, medical supplies, and hygiene kits to ensure that basic needs were met. Additionally, this initiative facilitated temporary shelter arrangements in collaboration with local organizations and volunteers. They collaborated with many AUB student societies and clubs such as the Secular Club, the Economics Student Society, the Women at Work club, and the Women in Engineering (WiE) club. They organized volunteering trips to schools and shelters in Ras Beirut to distribute packages, sort through donations, and spend time with children at the shelters.

A student-led initiative called Helping Others was founded on September 23, 2024, on the day the war started in Beirut. The AUB students focused on collecting donations and buying the essential materials for the displaced, such as medications, food, clothes, and house necessities. It started as a genuine project where they operated from home to help others during war. Now, they collaborate with multiple clubs and societies in AUB to bring relief to people in need.
Similarly, “Wled el Balad” is a student-led initiative that emerged during the war to provide relief to affected individuals. Their work included organizing donation drives and distributing essential supplies. Moreover, they collaborated with Step Together Association to host volunteering trips to shelters to promote inclusive social development.

“Beit El Baraka” is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring dignity for Lebanese families deprived of their basic and fundamental needs. Their pre-existing support programs were instrumental in mitigating the hardships faced by vulnerable individuals. They collaborated with the Mount Lebanon and Beirut Governorate Emergency Relief Room, where they delivered over 10,000 meals daily to 28 shelters across Lebanon. Similar to all initiatives, they also provided necessities like mattresses, medical supplies, clothes, and hygiene products to affected families. Furthermore, to sustain and expand their relief efforts, “Beit el Baraka” engaged in active fundraising campaigns on GoFundMe. For instance, events like “Levant – Fundraiser for Beit el Baraka” were organized to celebrate Levantine culture and channel proceeds toward the organization’s initiatives. These efforts not only raised funds but also increased awareness globally about the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and the organization’s pivotal role in addressing it.
Nation Station, a community kitchen, called for volunteers across Lebanon to assist them in preparing food to be distributed across all areas of Lebanon. They had allocated different locations to receive volunteers where each location was in charge of one task. “In the face of all this, we continue to cook and provide food assistance, our own way of resistance!” posted Nation Station.

“Offre Joie,” a non-profit organization founded in 1987, also provided and distributed many essentials across the country. They coordinated with volunteers to make sure all supplies reached every single family in need. One of the organization’s significant initiatives during this period was “Operation Flora.” Volunteers undertook the clearance of 600 truckloads of debris in the Karantina area in Beirut, facilitating the creation of housing for displaced families within just eight days. This effort not only provided immediate shelter but also demonstrated the power of collective action in times of crisis.

During the war, I stayed in Hamra, where I had lived my whole life. Known as the vibrant heart of Ras Beirut, Hamra’s bustling streets had always been filled with energetic cafés and an overall lively atmosphere, where students, artists, and intellectuals met. During the war, this dynamic neighborhood transformed into a hub of solidarity and hope. Volunteers filled its streets, mobilizing aid, distributing supplies, and supporting displaced families. Despite the crisis, Hamra’s spirit remained unshaken—its cafés became meeting points for relief efforts, its sidewalks lined with donation drives, and its people united by a shared sense of resilience and compassion.

I could endlessly highlight the remarkable efforts of countless NGOs during the war—their dedication knows no bounds, and the list of their exceptional contributions is truly endless.
It is the impact of over 5,000 NGOs that encouraged many helpless individuals to lend a hand during the war. Even after the ceasefire, all these organizations are still working towards alleviating the war’s impact, showcasing the true essence of the Lebanese identity.

Sources:

AUB Neighborhood Initiative: https://www.aub.edu.lb/Neighborhood/Pages/ourwork.aspx

Beit Baraka: https://beitelbaraka.org/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/levant-fundraiser-for-beit-el-baraka?qid=68e2ced4a700ff0f23d7f4 160cca6cf6

Offre Joie: https://offrejoie.net/

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/13/war-child-lebanon-guardian-charity-appeal-pa rtner-families-in-conflict

War Child: https://www.warchild.net/country-lebanon/

Nation Station: elief.lebanonworks.net/2024/11/nation-station-in-the-face-of-all-this-we-continue-to-cook-and-pr ovide-food-assistance-our-own-way-of-resistance-our-distributions-span-across-beirut-and-moun t-lebanon-reaching-schools-shelters/

+ Social media accounts of each where they promoted and called for volunteers