Lebanon is in the throes of a political, economic, and social crisis of unprecedented severity: massive bombings are ravaging the country in mid-March 2026, with more than 1 million people displaced, 992 dead—including 100 children—and 2,200 wounded. Residents of Christian villages in southern Lebanon are refusing to leave, fearing they will not be able to return to their villages.
In Alma el-Chaab, a Christian village in the south, residents have so far refused to evacuate, whereas in 2024 only four or five people remained there. In Beirut and other parts of the country, Christian communities are already preparing to welcome displaced people, just as they did during previous crises. Churches, social centers, and organizations are making arrangements to house families, regardless of their religious or community affiliation. But given the scale of the expected displacement, local solidarity may not be enough. Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing in a hurry, often unable to take even the bare necessities with them.
