SCM Stancepaper on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon and the Impact on Syrian Refugees
SCM is deeply alarmed by the escalating humanitarian disaster in Lebanon, which is inflicting immense suffering on vulnerable populations, particularly Syrian refugees. For over a decade, these refugees have faced displacement, persecution, and severe economic challenges. The intensification of the Israeli army’s hostilities in Lebanon has dramatically worsened their plight, leading to civilian casualties, disrupted aid, and the displacement of tens of thousands.
There are 6 official border crossings between Lebanon and Syria, three of which were affected by Israeli attacks, the Matraba crossing, the Masnaa crossing and the Jousieh crossing. In recent weeks, more than 528,000 estimated Individuals have arrived in Syria from Lebanon since 24 Sep 2024, many on foot after Israeli airstrikes made the Masnaa crossing inaccessible to vehicles. One of SCM’s resources stated that when he got home after the beginning of the attacks, his wife and children were in a state of indescribable terror and that a nearby house had been destroyed by the bombing. He also described his journey when he and his family attempted to flee the area as they saw the fires caused by the bombing, and that they had to stop occasionally when there was a nearby bombing.As of October 2024, Lebanon is hosting around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Conditions have worsened as 1.2 million people, including Lebanese citizens, have been displaced internally due to airstrikes. The lack of legal residency status for most Syrians severely limits their ability to move freely or access basic services.
