Displaced Lebanese families struggle in makeshift shelters as Israeli strikes continue

2026-03-27 - 08:40

Displaced Lebanese families, who were forced to flee their homes due to Israeli military strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, are struggling to survive in makeshift tents at public parks, schools, and soccer stadiums converted into temporary shelters on March 27. Unable to find safe housing, many civilians are spending their days and nights on the streets and in overcrowded open spaces across the capital. Humanitarian crisis The images from Beirut capture the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continue. Lebanese authorities report that over one million people have been displaced since Israel expanded its campaign on March 2, with at least 1,094 killed and 3,119 wounded. Displacement surge The southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, have been heavily targeted by Israeli airstrikes, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. Many have sought refuge in public parks, schools, and sports stadiums that have been converted into makeshift shelters, where conditions are increasingly dire as resources run thin. International response The UN and humanitarian organizations have called for increased support, with the International Organization for Migration reporting that over 1 million people have been displaced inside Lebanon and more than 130,000 have crossed into Syria. The IOM warned of mounting humanitarian needs and urged sustained international support. Conflict context The Lebanon displacement crisis stems from the broader regional escalation following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which have killed over 1,350 people in Iran. Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon, launched March 3, has expanded to include airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs.