The 2026 Lebanon conflict, which is linked to wider conflict in the region that began in late February, continues to escalate. More than 1,000 people have died, including more than 100 children. Evacuation orders are in place across South Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, leaving more than 1 million people displaced within Lebanon. World Vision’s staff in Lebanon is working alongside partner organizations to help meet urgent needs for people fleeing the conflict. Here’s what you need to know about what’s happening in Lebanon.
Lebanon conflict: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
- Fast facts: Lebanon conflict
- How many people are impacted by the conflict in Lebanon?
- What parts of Lebanon are affected?
- How many people have died?
- How is the conflict in Lebanon affecting children?
- What is World Vision doing to help?
- How can I help?
Fast facts: Lebanon conflict
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- Displacement is rising due to escalating conflict in Lebanon.
- There are over 1 million new internally displaced people (IDPs) since March 2.
- Thousands of families are seeking shelter.
- Children continue to bear the heaviest impact of the crisis.
- Over 300 schools have been damaged due to conflict.
- As of March 19, more than 1,000 people have died, including more than 100 children, and more than 2,100 people have been injured.
- Over 80% of Lebanon’s population lives in multidimensional poverty, struggling to access basic needs.
- More than 4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
- In some areas of Lebanon, half of children under age 2 experience severe food poverty.
- World Vision has three child sponsorship area programs in Lebanon impacted by the conflict.
- World Vision’s staff in Lebanon is responding by delivering food, hygiene kits, blankets, and other essential support to families staying in collective shelters.
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How many people are impacted by the conflict in Lebanon?
Since March 2, UNICEF reports there are 1.049 million new IDPs in Lebanon as hostilities have escalated. At least 300,000 IDPs are children. There are more than 132,000 people — including nearly 44,000 children — in 322 collective shelters, which are pre-existing buildings like schools, hotels, or community centers that become safe havens for people fleeing disaster.
“There aren’t enough shelters to house all of the displaced,” says Heidi Diedrich, World Vision’s national director in Lebanon. “ … The shelters are almost full. … The pace of displacement is far more dramatic than the response can address.”
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Those numbers are expected to rise as evacuation orders continue expanding across South Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.
Additionally, more than 2,100 people have been injured in the conflict, and 886 people have died, including 103 children.
What parts of Lebanon are affected?
Evacuation orders are expanding in the South, Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley. Targeting central Beirut is new, with strikes including hotels and residential buildings that inevitably affect civilians.
Recent airstrikes hit the neighborhoods of Haret Saida, Tyre, Aramoun, and Ramlet El Bayda — areas deemed safer — and in one case targeting a car nearby displaced families staying in tents. Hostilities are increasingly affecting areas beyond the “traditional” frontline zones, which points to a more aggressive escalation than that experienced in 2024.
How many people have died?
As of March 19, more than 1,000 people have died, including 103 children. Additionally, more than 2,100 people have been injured in the Lebanon conflict.
UNICEF estimates that 10 children are killed each day.
To date, 14 paramedics have been killed, including one member of the Lebanese Red Cross, underscoring the growing risks faced by emergency personnel.
How is the conflict in Lebanon affecting children?
Children in Lebanon already faced extreme poverty and other challenges from previous conflicts. In some regions of Lebanon, more than half of children under age 2 face severe food poverty, while nationwide, nearly a third of children under 18 had just one meal or none the day before. Escalating conflict exasperates an already-fragile context for children.
World Vision operates three affected area programs in Lebanon supporting thousands of children. Staff have been doing a rapid assessment of registered children, and preliminary findings indicate that about one-third of registered children are displaced, with most households residing outside of collective shelters. Sponsorship activities in impacted areas have been realigned so staff can prioritize urgent humanitarian needs for children and families.
What is World Vision doing to help?
World Vision’s staff in Lebanon was among the first humanitarian responders, reaching around 6,000 individuals within hours of the escalation. Assistance is reaching newly displaced households as well as families affected by previous escalations, including minority communities and new arrivals seeking safety.
“Our teams have been working around the clock,” says Heidi Diedrich, World Vision’s national director in Lebanon.
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Since then, we have reached nearly 151,000 people, including nearly 53,000 children. Assistance includes hot meals, ready-to-eat food, hygiene kits, mattresses, blankets, water, and other essential relief items, alongside psychological first aid for children and families. We are also supporting child protection, psychosocial activities, and alternative learning options to help children cope with displacement and school closures.
“With World Vision, as a child-focused organization, the first thing we do is focus on the wellbeing of the child and what we must do to ensure their protection,” Heidi says.
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Our staff is working alongside 16 local partner organizations to reach affected people. We have supported eight community kitchens with fresh and dry ingredients. We have also distributed:
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- 90,234 hot meals
- 26,176 nutritious snacks
- 5,973 blankets
- 4,937 family hygiene kits
- 4,758 mattresses
- 4,064 ready-to-eat food kits
- 2,897 sleeping mats
- 1,970 bread packs
- 627 ready-to-eat meals
- 500 cold meals
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As needs continue to grow, we are scaling up lifesaving support while continuing longer‑term efforts that help communities recover and build stronger futures for children.
How can I help?
We remain steadfast in our commitment to children across the Middle East and beyond and invite you to partner with us in our work.
First, join us in praying for this lifesaving work:
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- Pray for safety for all aid workers.
- Pray for peace and comfort for displaced families.
- Pray for children impacted by the conflict.
- Pray for lasting peace.
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Second, you can also give a gift today to help World Vision’s global disaster response work in Lebanon and other areas impacted by disasters.
