Lebanon crisis: 1,000 people killed and one million forced to flee their homes
Last update April 2026
Hostilities in Lebanon continue with devastating airstrikes in the country on 9 April. The daytime strikes on busy neighbourhoods left more than one hundred killed and hundreds more wounded, including women, children and medical workers. Some remain missing or trapped beneath the rubble.
The Lebanese Red Cross is at the forefront of the response. Teams rushed to evacuate the deceased and transport the wounded to hospitals, despite challenging conditions and roads blocked by debris. 100 ambulances were dispatched across the country to reach civilians, in a remarkable effort.
Since 2 March 2025, more than 1 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Lebanon. At least 1,000 people have been killed by hostilities in Lebanon, with over 3,000 more injured.
“I’ve seen families sleeping in their cars, children, the elderly and people with disabilities left with no shelter,” said Gabriel Karlsson, who is based in Beirut as the Middle East and North Africa regional representative for the British Red Cross.
“People are forced to flee with little belongings, become separated from loved ones, and are struggling to find adequate shelter, access to food or healthcare. We are working tirelessly to ensure people are not in harm’s way, but the numbers are staggeringly high.”
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What is the Red Cross and Red Crescent doing to help people in Lebanon?
The Lebanese Red Cross is providing round-the-clock support to communities and is scaling up its efforts as needs increase.
Teams from across the Movement are responding across the wider region, and the British Red Cross is working with National Societies across the region to support all communities affected by the conflict.
In Lebanon, Lebanese Red Cross teams have:
- Mobilised all teams, including 125 ambulances and 375 trained volunteers who have responded to over 2,700 incidents across the affected area.
- Deployed emergency medical teams to help restore access to water systems in affected villages in South Lebanon.
- Provided more than 40,200 health services to over 22,000 people.
- Distributed over 20,970 blankets, 7,700 mattresses, 5,100 hygiene kits and 100,700 food and water parcels.
How you can help people in Lebanon
If you are in the UK, the best and quickest way to help support people in Lebanon and other areas affected by crisis is to donate to the Disaster Fund. Donations will enable us to respond quickly and help wherever the need is greatest.
Donate now to help people in Lebanon
Where will my money go?
Your donation to the Disaster Fund will support people in Lebanon and those potentially affected in the future by this crisis. The Disaster Fund also supports humanitarian efforts in the UK, Bangladesh, Chad, Kenya, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, Jamaica, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Yemen.
The importance of neutrality and impartiality
We are a humanitarian organisation that stands for neutrality and impartiality in times of crisis – these principles are the beating heart of every single action we take. Our neutrality is what allows us to access communities, gain trust, and work behind the scenes to get help where it’s needed most.
Decisions on who, how, and why we provide support to those suffering are based on where there is need. As a humanitarian organisation, we are not here to take sides. We are not here to measure one life against another. We are here to relieve suffering – and we will continue to do all we can.
Find out more about our response and what's happening in Lebanon.