Good Shepherd emergency response to the crisis
Escalating violence across the Middle East is deepening an already fragile humanitarian situation. In one week, heavy bombardments have torn through southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and parts of Beirut, forcing over 700,000 people to flee their homes and causing tragic causalities. Overnight, families, women, children, elderly have left everything behind to find safety wherever they could. Public schools and churches have been turned into makeshift shelters, but many are already at full capacity and lack essential services. Among those displaced are also Palestinian and Syrian refugees forced to flee for the second, third or even fourth time.
It is incredibly difficult to describe the depth of suffering we see in the eyes of these people, Sr. Antoinette Assaf, MDO Director in Lebanon, describes. We see fear and distress—mothers unwilling to let go of their children, elderly carrying their entire lives in a single bag, or sometimes with nothing at all.
On the frontline, Good Shepherd sisters and partners in Beirut have activated their emergency response with the aim of supporting around 1,400 people affected by the crisis. The mobile clinic team is traveling to distribute essential medicines to people with chronic conditions or in urgent medical need and who have lost access to treatment because of displacement. Sisters and partners have begun the distribution of essential relief items, such as water, food, blankets, mattresses and hygiene kits to meet the most immediate needs of around 300 displaced families spread across nearby collective shelters. Most of them had to leave all their belongings behind as they fled the bombardments with little warning and are now living in overcrowded conditions, with limited access to proper sanitation facilities or other essential services. Beyond the provision of medical aid and the distribution of relief items, sisters offer a compassionate ear and a calming presence to families and children who are struggling with intense fear and anxiety, helping to bring comfort and care in the midst of this tragedy.
We know that bread alone cannot heal trauma. That’s why we are also providing psychological support and are present for those in need. For children, we try to help them feel a sense of normalcy again, Sr. Antoinette explains. We maintain educational activities so that they can focus on learning and feel like children again – even for a moment. We also visit families to offer parents a shoulder to lean on, reminding them that they are not alone.
The country was already struggling after years of compounding crises – economic turmoil, conflict, political instability and repeated cycles of armed conflict. This latest escalation is pushing many Lebanese beyond their ability to deal with trauma, displacement and war. As hostilities are intensifying and evacuation orders continue, the number of displaced people in need of humanitarian assistance is expected to rise dramatically.
Our thought and prayers are with all the families, women and children closely touched by this tragedy. GSIF stays in close contact with sisters and partners on the ground, working alongside them every day to mobilize a full emergency response and ensure the broadest possible access to essential services for the affected population. As the crisis shows no sign of easing, our commitment to supporting the relief efforts in Beirut through the Good Shepherd community social and health services remains steadfast.
