MSF Response to the War in Lebanon

Humanitarian Impact

The humanitarian impact of the latest escalation in Lebanon is devastating and continues to worsen. Since 2 March, more than 700,000 people have been displaced across the country, seeking refuge in collective shelters, towns, and cities that are already struggling to absorb them. 

The scale of displacement is stretching the already limited capacity to provide shelter and basic assistance, including healthcare, water, and sanitation services. Many displaced people are lacking essential relief items such as mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies. Clean water and sanitation support are also critically needed, particularly in overcrowded shelters and for people who remain stranded. 

Overcrowded collective shelters, poor living conditions, and lack of privacy are also increasing protection risks, especially for women and girls. Following Israel’s announcement of a ground incursion, older people and people with disabilities were trapped in border towns as reports of a ground incursion made evacuation increasingly difficult. 

Mass evacuation orders, including those issued for Beirut’s southern suburbs and for more than 150 towns and villages south of the Litani River, raise serious concerns. Amid ongoing violence and uncertainty, any sense of normal life has been shattered. Families already struggling to cope are facing immense psychological strain, living in constant fear, repeated displacement, and deep insecurity. 

Nearly two years of conflict have already left Lebanon’s services and resources under severe pressure. The latest escalation is deepening that strain at a time when funding cuts to global humanitarian aid have reduced emergency contingency stocks. With displacement rising rapidly, urgent support for shelter, water, and healthcare is needed. 

Medical impact & access to healthcare 

Access to healthcare in Lebanon is becoming increasingly difficult as attacks, displacement, and evacuation orders disrupt both services and patients’ ability to reach them. The latest escalation is hitting a health system that was already extremely fragile after months of continued violence and unmet needs following the 2024 war. 

Primary healthcare centres and dispensaries in many areas are overwhelmed by the number of patients and are struggling to maintain continuity of care. In some locations, health facilities themselves fall under evacuation orders, directly disrupting services and leaving patients with fewer options to access treatment. 

Displacement is creating additional barriers to care. People forced to flee are struggling to access primary healthcare, essential medicines, and follow-up treatment, particularly for chronic diseases and acute conditions.  

Hospitals in affected areas are also under pressure as they receive casualties from ongoing attacks. At the same time, as in the 2024 escalation, attacks and impacts on healthcare facilities and healthcare workers have again been reported, further weakening the health system’s capacity to respond. According to OCHA, as of 9 March, five hospitals and 48 primary healthcare centres had been evacuated or forced to close. The Ministry of Public Health reported 14 health workers killed and 24 injured, including two paramedics wounded in an attack on a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance in Tyre district. 

Mental health needs are also increasing sharply. People who have already endured repeated displacement and prolonged insecurity are once again living under bombardment, uncertainty, and fear, while access to appropriate support remains limited.