Lebanon’s Displacement Crisis: The Human and Economic Toll of Conflict

The ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon have not only inflicted devastating physical and economic damage but also triggered one of the most severe displacement crises in the nation’s history. Over 1.3 million people have been uprooted from their homes, disrupting livelihoods, overwhelming infrastructure, and exacerbating Lebanon’s already fragile socio-economic fabric. Drawing on insights from the World Bank’s Interim Damage and Loss Assessment Report (November 2024), this note highlights the scale, impact, and broader implications of internal displacement. It also underscores a troubling reality: the Lebanese government’s lack of preparedness to handle this crisis with dignity, despite the confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel beginning as early as October 8, 2023. The failure to anticipate and mitigate the humanitarian fallout reflects deeper systemic issues within Lebanon’s governance and crisis response mechanisms.

The Scale of Displacement. As of November 2024, more than 875,000 Lebanese have been internally displaced, while an additional 440,000 individuals have fled to neighboring Syria. This mass exodus, concentrated primarily in southern Lebanon, has reshaped the demographic and economic landscape of the country. Urban centers such as Beirut and its southern suburbs, along with districts in the north and northeast, have become the primary destinations for displaced populations, placing immense pressure on already overburdened host communities.

Displacement from rural agricultural areas, particularly in the Bekaa Valley and southern districts, has not only uprooted families but also disrupted critical economic activities. Many displaced individuals, including farmers and small business owners, face uncertain futures, with limited means to rebuild their lives.

The Humanitarian Fallout. The displacement crisis has revealed the extent to which Lebanon’s governance and infrastructure are ill-equipped to handle emergencies of this magnitude. Public systems, already weakened by years of economic mismanagement and austerity, are struggling to meet the needs of displaced populations. Health, education, and basic municipal services have all been severely strained.

Health Risks and Vulnerabilities

The overcrowding in shelters has created fertile ground for public health crises. Communicable diseases are on the rise, and access to medical care remains grossly inadequate. Particularly vulnerable are women and children, who constitute a significant proportion of the displaced. Over 11,600 pregnant women are in dire need of reproductive healthcare, while children face increased exposure to disease due to low vaccination rates and poor sanitation in shelters.

Health centers and hospitals in affected areas have been damaged or rendered inoperable, further compounding the crisis. With limited international aid and reduced capacity to address immediate needs, Lebanon risks a full-scale public health emergency.

Educational Disruptions

The crisis has also disrupted the education of nearly half a million students. Public schools across the country have been converted into temporary shelters for displaced families, delaying the start of the academic year. Private schools, too, are seeing declining enrollment as displaced families cannot afford tuition. This loss of educational continuity poses long-term risks to human capital development in a country already grappling with declining literacy and learning outcomes.

Economic Devastation. The displacement crisis has had severe economic repercussions. Approximately 166,000 individuals have lost their jobs due to the destruction of businesses and the abandonment of agricultural activities. This has resulted in an estimated annual loss of $168 million in earnings, further eroding Lebanon’s economic base.

The agriculture sector, which forms the backbone of rural economies, has been particularly hard hit. Farmers have been forced to abandon fields, leading to lost harvests and reduced food supply. Livestock and crops have been destroyed, depriving families of income and driving up food prices. These economic disruptions ripple through the broader economy, contributing to inflation and deepening poverty.?

Social and Political Implications. The displacement crisis is not merely a humanitarian and economic issue—it also has profound social and political implications. The sudden influx of large populations into host communities has strained social cohesion, heightening pre-existing tensions and raising the specter of localized conflicts. This dynamic underscores Lebanon’s fragile governance and centralized decision-making, which have left municipalities ill-equipped to manage the crisis.

Local authorities, deprived of autonomy and adequate funding, face severe shortages in essential resources like food, shelter, and medical aid. This centralization has created bottlenecks, forcing municipalities to rely on international NGOs and informal networks—unsustainable solutions that deepen regional disparities. As a result, displaced families feel abandoned, further eroding trust in public institutions.

Lebanon’s central government response to the crisis has been marked by a lack of dignity, reflecting years of economic mismanagement, political instability, and an inadequate social safety net. While some international aid has been provided, it remains insufficient to address the vast scale of the displacement crisis. Empowering local governments through meaningful decentralization, coupled with robust international support, is essential to mitigating the humanitarian toll and restoring public confidence. Without these critical changes, Lebanon faces the risk of further destabilization and prolonged suffering for its displaced populations.

The Need for a Comprehensive Response. Lebanon’s displacement crisis demands a coordinated and multifaceted response that addresses both immediate needs and long-term challenges. Key steps include:

• Emergency Relief and Humanitarian Aid. The international community must step up its financial and logistical support to provide shelter, food, and medical care to displaced populations. Targeted health interventions, including vaccination campaigns and maternal healthcare, should be prioritized.
• Strengthening Infrastructure. Investment in local infrastructure, including schools, health centers, and basic utilities, is essential to support host communities and displaced populations.
• Economic Recovery Programs. Targeted programs to revive agricultural and small business activities in affected areas can help displaced individuals regain their livelihoods. ?Microfinance and grants for displaced entrepreneurs could play a pivotal role in fostering recovery.
• Social Cohesion Initiatives. Efforts to reduce tensions between displaced populations and host communities must include dialogue programs and equitable distribution of resources to minimize perceptions of favoritism.
• Long-Term Governance Reforms. Lebanon’s ongoing crisis underscores the need for governance reforms to build more resilient institutions capable of responding to future emergencies.

Lebanon’s displacement crisis is a stark reminder of the cascading impacts of conflict on vulnerable societies. Beyond the immediate human suffering, it threatens to deepen the country’s economic collapse, exacerbate social divisions, and further erode governance. Without decisive action—both from Lebanon’s leaders and the international community—the displacement crisis risks becoming a protracted humanitarian disaster.

For Lebanon, this is a tipping point. The choices made in the coming weeks and months will determine whether the nation can chart a path toward recovery or descend further into chaos. By addressing the needs of displaced populations and rebuilding its shattered economy, Lebanon can begin to restore hope for its people. However, this will require the courage to prioritize human dignity over political divisions and the vision to build a more inclusive and resilient society.