As of September 26 2024, Israel and Hezbollah forces have been exchanging fire over, which destabilized the situation in the Middle East further. So far, more than 700 innocent civilians have been killed in Lebanon, many of whom are women and children. Additionally, thousands of residents in the south of Lebanon have fled to the northern part of the country to escape the conflict, which could worsen the already high rate of poverty in the country. Despite the intensity of the conflict in the last few days, governments and humanitarian organizations have been relentless in improving stability in Lebanon and its vulnerable communities.

Regional Support to Lebanon

Middle Eastern countries have been at the forefront of providing aid to the Lebanese people in their darkest hours and to pave the way for stability in Lebanon. For example, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) funded the ambulance services carried out by Lebanon’s Subul Al Salam Social Association in the northern part of the country. The association was able to carry out 59 ambulance missions on September 14, 2024, and they plan to use the funds to provide services to those in refugee areas, Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Similarly, on September 24, 2024, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) conducted a relief campaign for 10,000 displaced Lebanese families in shelter centers by providing essential items such as food, cleaning supplies and mattresses. This highlights only a little bit of the exhaustive efforts by countries worldwide to help Lebanon.

International Support to Lebanon:

Countries beyond the Middle East have been involved in the efforts to ensure that there is stability in Lebanon. For instance, on April 3, 2024, USAID announced that it is providing more than $67 million for humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable communities in Lebanon. The funds will help organizations in Lebanon, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), continue to deliver life-saving aid to over 100,000 people in Lebanon. On the other hand, on May 2 2024, the European Union announced that it is providing financial assistance to the most vulnerable in Lebanon of €1 billion from 2024-2027 to support, among many things, basic health and education services. This shows that, despite the intensity of the current conflict in Lebanon, there are still good people trying to bring peace and stability to the country.

Stability in Lebanon: The Future

In the last few days since war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, media outlets have been focusing disproportionately on the doom side of the conflict. Although it is right to point out the level of destruction in this war, there is also the often-overlooked part where diplomats and aid workers are working tirelessly to bring stability to Lebanon.

Regional countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have been providing aid non-stop to Lebanon as part of the effort to bring peace to the Middle East. Similarly, the U.S. and the EU are also working to end the conflict in Lebanon via diplomacy and humanitarian aid to strengthen the international human rights system. It may be difficult to feel hopeful for Lebanon given the nature of the news cycle today. Still, the facts on the ground give a strong reason to feel optimistic for a better tomorrow for the Lebanese people.

– Abdullah Dowaihy

Abdullah is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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