Developing my skills and building a better future for my family
February 25, 2026
Mitigating the educational toll of the war
March 31, 2026For such a time as this
As we celebrate Easter this year, we are living through a painfully familiar scenario. Since March 2, 2026, hostilities have resumed between Hezbollah and Israel, killing over 1,300 people and injuring 3,800. Over a million people have been displaced across Lebanon as Israel continues to launch airstrikes and issue evacuation warnings to entire neighborhoods and regions across the country. These numbers might increase as ground incursions in the south multiply and a larger ground invasion is looming.
While we may be tired and our circumstances become even more difficult, 15 years of responding to crises in our region has built our capacity and prepared us for such a time as this. Through our long-lasting network of local partners, we have supported over 6,000 people in just one month, hopefully showing them in the process that God cares about them and has not abandoned them.
A painfully familiar scenario
Since March 2, over a hundred villages in the south were evacuated, as well as entire suburbs of Beirut, and families fled with whatever they could carry. For most of them, it is the second time they are displaced by war in less than a year and a half.
We visited a public school in Beirut that opened its doors for displaced families from the south. Among the people who sought refuge there, we met Amir*, who shared with us how difficult it was for him and his family to flee their village. Like many from our region, Amir is sadly used to being displaced and had to leave everything behind:
I left my house at 3 a.m., I arrived here at 10:30 p.m., but in normal times the journey takes less than an hour. We suffered and struggled a lot on the roads. This is the fifth time I’ve been displaced in my life, but it’s the second time since I got married and had children. It’s harder when you’re with a family. You fear for your children more than yourself. In a moment, I had to leave the most precious things I have, my livelihood and everything, and I came here, hoping that my family and I would be safe.
In the Beqaa valley, we also met Mona, who finally found shelter in another public school after staying on the streets for two days with her family, including her young son with cerebral palsy:
We were in our village when we started to feel that something was wrong. People began to flee. I have diabetes and other health problems, and my son is sick, so I was very afraid. We left too, but we didn’t have time to take anything expect some clothes. In the panic of the moment, I even forgot the medication my son needs. We could not find a place to stay at first. No one welcomed us, so we stayed on the street for two days. My son got cold, just like the rest of us, and I became even more distressed.
Existing for such a time as this
This time around, we were better prepared to immediately respond at a larger scale than we were in September 2024, when the regional war first drastically expanded into Lebanon. Anticipating some level of escalation to occur again, we worked with our network of local suppliers, implementing partners, and resource partners to preposition mattresses and blankets for immediate distribution. Besides, our local partners still had the phone numbers of the families they helped in 2024 and were able to reconnect and quickly offer renewed assistance.
Through them, we have been on the ground since day one. Across the South, Beirut, Beqaa, Akkar, the North, and the Chouf governorates, MERATH partners have already been able to assist over 6,000 people with mattresses, blankets, winter clothing, diapers, and other essential items, hopefully showing them in the process that God cares about them and has not abandoned them. Carol*, one of our local partners in Beirut shared:
When the war started again, I was shocked and overwhelmed. Thankfully, MERATH was the first to support us. Not even two days into the conflict, MERATH was already helping us support displaced families in different places, in coordination with municipalities and public schools turned into shelters. Everyone told us we were the first to contact them to offer help. In all this mess, the help we provide brings some joy and relief. We have it on our heart to help, because Christ told us the greatest commandment is to “love one another”. As Christians we are not supposed to just love the people closest to us. We must show His love to everyone. That is our primary motivation, and we feel it is the least we can do.
Yet not us, but through Christ in us
Our local partners and team members are no superheroes. Just like everyone, we sometimes feel weary, worried, or even discouraged. The only reason we can keep responding to crisis upon crisis, in sometimes very dark and distressing circumstances, is that the same power that rose Jesus from the dead is also at work through all of us, and through all our partners worldwide who are making this possible. Truly, through the resurrected Christ who strengthens us, everything becomes possible. The pastor of our church partner in Akkar expressed it beautifully:
At this point, honestly, the situation has become very difficult. We have helped a lot over the years, yet the same problems keep returning. Sometimes we think that we do not want to get involved again in such circumstances. But then we remember Jesus, who lives in our hearts, and our humanity. When we see the people around us who are suffering and in need, we cannot help but extend a helping hand. I hope that this crisis will not last long. Lebanon today is like Jesus when he was crucified and remained in the tomb for three days. But after three days, he rose again. I pray that this difficult phase for Lebanon will also be short, and that the country will rise again.
