Displaced Lebanese struggle in overcrowded Beirut shelters

A displaced woman from south Lebanon sits in front of a school turned into a shelter in the city of Sidon, March 20, 2026.

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Mohammad Zaatari/AP
Published on
25/03/2026 - 14:24 GMT+1
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Displaced Lebanese caught in the war between Israel and Hezbollah militias marked what should have been the typically joyous holiday of Eid al-Fitr in overcrowded shelters with inadequate food, water and medical care, as families remained separated months after fleeing Israeli strikes.

More than 134,000 people registered in 644 shelters across Lebanon as of Saturday, according to Lebanese authorities, as the UN's International Organisation for Migration agency (IOM) estimates that over 1 million people have been displaced across the country since the war reignited
Euronews visited a shelter in Beirut on the first day of Eid, where displaced residents tried to maintain a semblance of tradition offering sweets and coffee despite the overwhelming conditions.

Fatima, displaced from the town of Abba in Nabatiyeh district, said they did not feel the meaning of Eid
"One meal a day is not enough," she said.

A corridor inside a shelter in Beirut
يورونيوز
They have received only one food subsidy in 17 days, which is insufficient, she said
Cold and inedible meals are sometimes served.

Families were initially forced to sleep on the floor or in cars before some mattresses arrived
Psychological stress is worsened by constant tension and fear, especially among children and the elderly, in the absence of adequate healthcare.

Rudimentary cooking methods inside a shelter in Beirut amid a lack of equipment
Euronews
The main issue is "the severe shortage of water," he said, in addition to high prices of bread and basic items outside the centre.

Food aid "does not arrive as regularly as it used to," he said, and current rations "do not last more than a few days, especially with the presence of children."
Internally displaced person Ahmed Hussein Dirani, who is in charge of a shelter in Beirut.

Euronews
There is a clear imbalance in the distribution of resources, Dirani said
Equal amounts of water are given to families of varying numbers due to a lack of resources, making it difficult to achieve fair distribution.

He criticised some associations as being limited to registering names without providing actual assistance
Some aid has been commercially exploited at the expense of the displaced, he said.

Children face a clear lack of recreational activities and games during Eid, despite some limited initiatives from organisations.

Elderly residents, most of who suffer from health issues, face compounded suffering due to the lack of adequate medical care
Available mattresses are unsuitable for their needs.

The total number of displaced families inside shelters reached 33,949 as of Saturday.

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