“At the heart of the bombings, but we keep acting”

How many sites are you currently operating in, and where are the displaced people you support located? 

Humanity & Inclusion (HI)'s teams are currently working in three collective shelters in Beirut, as many displaced people are converging on the capital. One of these shelters alone hosts around 1,000 people. We are coordinating with the authorities to access additional shelters, particularly those hosting people with disabilities, elderly people, and pregnant women, to expand our response. 

Are you also operating elsewhere? 

Yes, we are also supporting people who are not in official shelters but are living in tents outside. We have supported people along the Beirut Corniche. Despite the provision of aid, including meals, needs remain significant. People are living in extremely difficult conditions: no privacy, insufficient basic services… And with the rain and cold this winter, the situation is becoming very harsh. 

In concrete terms, what have you distributed and what services have you provided so far? 

Our teams have distributed assistive devices - such as wheelchairs and crutches - hygiene kits, women’s hygiene kits, and care products for newborns. We have also provided rehabilitation services, referred pregnant women, and supported some childbirth. We have also offered psychological support sessions. In addition, we are currently finalising an agreement with an hospital in Beirut to ensure safe childbirth services. 

So far, we have been able to assist more than 500 people under extremely precarious operational conditions. 

Are you also working on raising awareness about explosive ordnance risks? 

Absolutely. We have published explosive ordnance risk education and protection messages against bombings on our social media, with more than 3,500 views already recorded. From now on, HI teams are also going directly into shelters to distribute flyers and posters about the dangers of mines and contamination. This is information that can literally save lives. 

What is the specific situation for people with disabilities in collective shelters? 

The situation can be very difficult. In a shelter hosting around 1,000 people, access to certain areas is only possible via stairs, sanitation facilities are not adapted, and in other shelters some areas remain poorly lit at night. 

Many people had to flee their homes urgently, without being able to take essential equipment such as glasses, wheelchairs, or other aids they rely on daily. They now find themselves in an environment that does not meet their specific needs, and may even become dangerous. 

You have also set up a hotline. How does it work? 

We have opened a referral hotline to receive reports from other humanitarian organisations or direct calls. A dedicated focal point manages these calls. We have already received 23 calls concerning people in need of services - such as essential items for displacement (small cooking stoves, blankets, etc.), medical care, or food assistance. When needs fall outside our scope, we refer people to appropriate partners and ensure follow-up. Our priority is people with disabilities, elderly people, and pregnant women, who are among the most vulnerable in this crisis. 

How is your team coping in this context? 

The HI team is made up of 50 people. Many have taken refuge in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, or the North. Seventeen of them have been directly affected by displacement - some are staying with relatives, others have rented elsewhere, and some are in collective shelters. And yet, the entire team remains mobilised. 

How are you personally experiencing this situation? 

We are not far from the bombings, which make the office walls shake. On March 24, we heard around seven explosions in Beirut in the middle of the night. We cannot sleep… The anxiety is constant: sometimes strikes are announced, sometimes not. 

Some team members are starting to need psychological support - because a building across the street has just been hit, or because their children are panicking. But we all remain mobilised. 

What are the daily operational constraints? 

There are days when security forces us to limit or postpone our movements. Last week, we were only able to operate in collective shelters for four days. This week, we had planned three days, but we must constantly adapt. We adjust our plan as soon as a constraint arises. Outside the shelters, in public spaces, we can act at any time. 

What are the main obstacles to a broader response? 

With the resources we currently have, we may be able to cover around ten shelters in Beirut. Beyond that, it becomes very complicated. We have launched an emergency appeal, but the funding available so far remains very limited. This is not specific to HI - other organisations are in the same situation. Humanitarian response capacity exists, but it is underfunded. 

What are HI’s immediate priorities? 

First, emergency kits such as winter kits for displaced people: mattresses, blankets, partitions to preserve a minimum of privacy, as well as hygiene kits. 

We also want to quickly set up psychosocial and recreational activities for children, who are in shock and no longer attending school. It is also essential to continue providing equipment for rehabilitation sessions and mobility aids. We must keep supporting pregnant women so they can access the services they need. 

Finally, HI aims to expand its geographical presence to the south and north, particularly in cities like Saida, which has been heavily affected. Our plan is ready.