Red Cross Appeals for Urgent Global Support to Aid Lebanon

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued a global emergency appeal, calling on donors to provide critical resources for Lebanon as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict continues to escalate. During a recent visit to Beirut, IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain urged all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safety of paramedics, who face significant risks as they respond to the growing humanitarian crisis.

The IFRC’s emergency appeal seeks to raise 100 million Swiss Francs (approximately $115.8 million) to support both Lebanon and the Lebanese Red Cross. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people and injured more than 13,000 in Lebanon, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced and are now sheltering in community centers across the country. As winter approaches, the IFRC emphasizes the urgent need for hygiene kits, blankets, heaters, and other essential supplies to support those affected.

Chapagain highlighted the immense challenges the region faces, noting that, even if hostilities were to cease, it would take substantial time for normalcy to return. The IFRC’s emergency appeal is designed to provide sustained support over two years, acknowledging the prolonged impact of the conflict and Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis.

The conflict has also seen casualties in Israel, with 68 soldiers and 41 civilians reported dead since October 2023, along with the displacement of over 60,000 individuals. The escalation on September 23 brought intense airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, displacing nearly 1.2 million people.

Globally, over 30 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers have been killed this year, with many more injured, a toll that Chapagain described as unprecedented. Among those affected are 17 members of the Lebanese Red Cross, who have been wounded while carrying out rescue operations.

Reaffirming the importance of humanitarian protection, Chapagain emphasized that the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems are internationally recognized and protected symbols. He also appealed for a united global effort to address the longstanding political challenges in the region.