Qabr Chamoun School Becomes Refuge as Lebanon Faces Mounting Displacement

In the tranquil hills of Mount Lebanon, approximately an hour from Beirut, a school in Qabr Chamoun has been transformed into a vital shelter, providing refuge for families displaced from southern Lebanon due to escalating Israeli attacks.

A Former Schoolyard Now a Sanctuary

Once bustling with students, the schoolyard now serves as a hub for aid deliveries, its slides and swings sitting empty as clothes hang between windows. Inside classrooms, desks have been pushed aside to accommodate mattresses, creating makeshift homes for those who have fled.

Aymane Malli, 49, among approximately 100 individuals sheltering here, shared the profound difficulty of their situation, stating, “But for me, it’s OK because I have to survive. I have to take care of my family.” Malli, along with his wife and five children, fled Habbouch, near Tyre, after Israel initiated bombings on March 2, following its joint war with the United States against Iran. Malli reflected on an uncertain future: “We wait… Maybe one day everything will end, and we can return home… if we can return home. We don’t have another choice.”

Escalating Conflict Fuels Widespread Displacement

Across Lebanon, schools, public buildings, and improvised shelters are rapidly filling as families flee the latest surge in violence. This follows a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which saw over 10,000 documented violations by Israel.

In recent weeks, Israel intensified its strikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. This escalation came after Hezbollah responded to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli air attack on February 28. Lebanese authorities report over 1,300 fatalities, including approximately 120 children, and more than 1.1 million people displaced as Israeli threats and air attacks push civilians further north.

Bilal Hussein, a 42-year-old chef, recounted fleeing Tyre with his family during the initial bombardments. “There were strikes around us,” he said, describing a two-day journey north through heavy traffic. After attempting several full shelters, Hussein expressed a common sentiment: “We want to go back to our homes, our city. It’s our place.”

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Overwhelmed Aid Efforts

Aid organizations confirm that the scenes witnessed in Qabr Chamoun are widespread, with many families struggling to find shelter. Action Against Hunger reported turning away over 400 people from the Qabr Chamoun school due to full capacity, while supporting 43,000 displaced individuals across 247 collective shelters.

Suzanne Takkenberg, Action Against Hunger’s regional director, highlighted significant gaps in response, noting that “Many people are still living in informal shelters or even on the streets. Reduced humanitarian funding limits the scale and speed of our response, leaving critical needs unmet and putting lives at risk.” Conditions in some shelters are deteriorating, with water leaks, and children suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses, eye infections, and diarrhoea due to inadequate sanitation.

The destruction of critical infrastructure, particularly bridges and access routes over the Litani River, increasingly isolates southern Lebanon, hindering further evacuations. Damage to farmland and supply routes also threatens long-term food security. With recent statements by Israeli officials hinting at a prolonged security presence or full-scale occupation in southern Lebanon, many families, like Mohammed al-Mustafa, a sweets seller from Tyre, fear they may never return. “It’s not the material things I worry about leaving behind,” al-Mustafa said, his voice trembling. “It’s the memories. We lived in that house for 40 years. Old photographs, our lives. We hope we can go back and find them.”

This latest wave of displacement underscores the devastating human cost of regional hostilities, with civilian populations repeatedly bearing the brunt of geopolitical tensions and military actions.

Key Takeaways

  • A school in Qabr Chamoun is sheltering approximately 100 people displaced by Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
  • Over 1.1 million Lebanese civilians have been displaced since March 2, with more than 1,300 fatalities, including 120 children.
  • Aid groups, such as Action Against Hunger, report critical gaps in humanitarian response, leading to overcrowded shelters and deteriorating conditions.
  • Infrastructure destruction and damage to supply routes are creating food security concerns and isolating southern regions.
  • Fears of a prolonged Israeli occupation persist, leaving displaced families uncertain about returning home and recovering their lives.