Escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have forced more than 700,000 people to flee their homes across Lebanon, creating a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued an emergency Watchlist alert, warning that the renewed conflict is already triggering widespread displacement and placing immense pressure on families, host communities and humanitarian services. Lebanon had already been identified as one of the ten countries most at risk of humanitarian emergencies in the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist, which predicted that renewed violence could lead to significant civilian suffering and displacement.
The escalation is further worsening Lebanon’s existing economic crisis, which has already pushed more than 80 percent of the population into poverty. Many families are struggling to afford food and basic necessities, while health, protection and other essential services are increasingly overwhelmed by rising demand. The combination of conflict and economic hardship is intensifying vulnerability among already fragile communities.
Humanitarian workers report that the majority of displaced people have not been able to access formal shelters. Only about one in five displaced individuals has reached collective shelters, while most are staying with relatives, neighbours or in temporary arrangements. In cities such as Beirut, some people are sleeping in cars or on the streets, while others rely on host families whose homes were already under strain. Severe overcrowding has also been reported in temporary shelters, including repurposed facilities where multiple families are forced to share small spaces with little privacy.
Aid organisations are attempting to respond to the urgent needs by distributing essential relief items such as mattresses, blankets and pillows to displaced families. However, humanitarian groups warn that the scale of needs is growing much faster than the resources available, raising concerns that many displaced people may soon lack access to even basic assistance.
The humanitarian consequences of the conflict extend beyond immediate displacement and casualties. According to the IRC, at least 400 people have been killed in recent strikes in Lebanon, while the broader regional conflict is also generating economic ripple effects. Rising fuel prices and disruptions to global fertilizer supplies could threaten food and energy security in many parts of the world, particularly for populations already struggling with rising costs of living.
There are also concerns that the escalating conflict may divert global attention and resources away from other severe humanitarian crises in places such as Sudan and Gaza. Humanitarian leaders warn that as focus shifts to new conflicts, existing emergencies risk receiving less diplomatic and financial support despite worsening conditions.
In response to the crisis, the IRC has called for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance can reach those in need. The organisation stressed the importance of respecting international humanitarian law, safeguarding civilian infrastructure and providing flexible funding to scale up emergency aid, expand health and protection services and deliver cash assistance and essential supplies to displaced families.
