“We left our home without knowing if or when we will return. This uncertainty is overwhelming and makes daily life unbearable. We try to hold on to hope and take life one day at a time.”
H.A., a 62‑year‑old displaced woman living in a collective shelter in Saida, in southern Lebanon
Supporting older people through local partnerships
With violence escalating across Lebanon, HelpAge and our global network partner Amel Association International are responding to the urgent needs of older people caught in a rapidly-evolving humanitarian crisis. Together, we are delivering critical, age‑inclusive support to older people who have been displaced or cut off from essential services.
Amel Association is responding in overcrowded collective shelters and host communities, providing hygiene and personal care items, basic medical support, and psychosocial support, with a focus on older people and people with disabilities. This work builds on long‑standing partnerships and local expertise, ensuring assistance reaches those most at risk.
Amel has distributed more than 600 hygiene kits to people in schools and colleges that are sheltering displaced families. Each hygiene kit—designed to support a family for one month—includes essential items like soap, cleaning supplies, toothbrushes, menstrual hygiene products, and health information. These basic resources help families maintain their health and dignity during displacement.
A crisis deepening rapidly
Since early March 2026, airstrikes and evacuation orders have forced families to flee southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and other affected areas.
In just a matter of weeks, more than one million people have been displaced. Public services are overwhelmed, and many families are now sheltering in overcrowded buildings or relying on communities already under severe economic strain.
This crisis is unfolding on top of Lebanon’s long-term economic collapse, which has weakened healthcare, electricity, and social support systems. Access to fuel, medical supplies, and basic goods has become increasingly limited, compounding the challenges facing displaced communities, refugees, and those who are most at risk.
Why older people are particularly affected
Older people are severely affected by this crisis, yet their needs are often overlooked in emergency responses. They make up around 11% of Lebanon’s population but are frequently excluded from assistance and recovery efforts.
Many older people live with non‑communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular conditions that require continuous care. As health services deteriorate and costs rise, managing these conditions has become increasingly difficult and unaffordable. Displacement further compounds these risks, especially for those with limited mobility or who rely on regular medication and support.
In overcrowded shelters that are not adapted to their needs, older people face heightened risks to their health, dignity, and wellbeing. Barriers such as long lines, inaccessible distribution points, and lack of targeted services can prevent them from accessing aid altogether.
"We try to take life one day at a time"
Older people displaced by the violence have shared powerful reflections on their experiences in shelters.
“Conditions in the shelters are very challenging, and maintaining dignity in such overcrowded spaces is a daily struggle.”
A.A., a 58‑year‑old displaced man living in a collective shelter in Saida
What's needed now
As the crisis continues, the needs of older people are growing. Alongside hygiene and personal care items, there is an urgent need for age‑inclusive support that includes access to healthcare and essential medication, cash assistance, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation and mobility services.
Sustained support for local responders like Amel Association, working as part of the HelpAge global network, is critical to ensure older people are not left behind as Lebanon’s humanitarian emergency deepens.
“The assistance provided makes a real difference in these difficult times, preserving a sense of personal dignity, even though the needs remain significant.”
M.L., a 55‑year‑old displaced woman living in a collective shelter in Beirut
Support older people and families displaced in Lebanon
As the crisis continues, older people need your compassion to make it through this dangerous time. Please send an emergency gift to help older people displaced in Lebanon today.