One million people displaced across Lebanon in just two weeks; children in need of urgent support, warns IRC

One million people have been displaced across Lebanon in just two weeks, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned on March 17, 2026, describing the crisis as one of the fastest displacement emergencies the country has faced, according to a press release issued by the IRC from Beirut, Lebanon. The figure is based only on those who have self-registered with the government, meaning the actual number of displaced people is likely much higher. The scale and speed of the crisis are straining already fragile services and pushing communities to the brink.

Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders across large areas of southern Lebanon, following the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, have forced families from their homes, often with no clear prospects for safe return. Families are arriving with little more than the clothes they fled in, sheltering in schools, unfinished buildings, and overcrowded homes. Thousands remain without adequate shelter, sleeping in the open, on the streets, in tents, or in their cars. Others are packed into overcrowded, under-equipped collective shelters with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and privacy. Local services are struggling to keep pace with rising demand.

More than 300,000 children have already been forced from their homes, and for many families this is not the first time they have been forced to flee in less than two years. Displacement and violence expose children to heightened risks including exploitation and severe psychological distress. As the NGO co-lead for the Child Protection sector in Lebanon, the IRC is coordinating the emergency response for children alongside humanitarian partners while scaling up critical services. IRC teams are supporting safe spaces for children, providing psychosocial support, and working with caregivers and communities to help children cope with sudden displacement.

Magda Rossmann, IRC Country Director for Lebanon, said:

“One million people displaced inside Lebanon in just two weeks is a shocking and deeply alarming figure. What makes this moment especially troubling is how quickly it has been reached. For Lebanon, this level of displacement in such a short period is a humanitarian turning point. The IRC is doing everything we can to respond, but the needs are immense and growing by the day. The international community must urgently step up with the support needed to ensure families who have lost everything are not left to face this crisis alone.”

In response to the escalating crisis, the United Nations and humanitarian partners have launched a $308.3 million Flash Appeal covering March to May 2026, aimed at providing lifesaving assistance and protection to up to one million people affected by the emergency. The IRC calls for urgent action to protect civilians and an end to the violence driving this crisis. The IRC maintains that all parties must stop putting civilians in harm’s way. Behind the numbers are families who have already lost too much, with children at risk of growing up defined by displacement rather than stability and safety.