Middle East Escalation in Violence

As violence escalates across the Middle East, Americares is concerned for the safety and wellbeing of civilians, especially in areas where hostilities have displaced millions of people and strained already fragile health systems.

Americares is responding to health needs in Lebanon and Syria, supporting partner organizations providing health services to those directly affected by the crisis.

The Health Needs in Lebanon

In Lebanon, more than 1 million people have left their homes and are displaced within the country. The violence they are fleeing is very real: The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reports more than 2,600 people have been killed and more than 8,200 injured since early March 2026.

Health facilities are also in the crossfire: The World Health Organization reports that three hospitals are closed, and 41 primary health care centers are closed, limiting access to essential health services.

Americares has a long history of supporting the health needs of vulnerable populations in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, including those displaced by conflict or experiencing stress and trauma.

“It’s critical that we continue to focus on the immediate health needs of people impacted by this conflict. People who are sheltering in place or forced to evacuate need everything from trauma care and primary care to mental health services.”

— Americares Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs, Provash Budden

Saving Lives and Improving Health in Lebanon

Americares is in contact with partners and is collaborating to meet health needs in Lebanon.

• With hospitals facing fuel shortages that could compromise care, Americares is providing emergency fuel support to a hospital in a refugee camp in Saida, a coastal city in southern Lebanon. Delivered through a local partner, the fuel will enable the hospital to maintain electricity critical for emergency care, intensive care, surgical services, maternal and neonatal care and essential medical equipment in a setting where reliance on generators is constant. Over two months, this support is expected to sustain care for approximately 4,000 patients, primarily Palestinian refugees along with other people who have been displaced and now face significant barriers to accessing public health services.
• Also in Saida, Americares is supporting a mobile medical team to provide primary care, medications, and referrals directly inside overcrowded shelters, where more than 11,000 displaced people are sheltering, providing access to care while clinics are not functioning or are overwhelmed.
• To help treat an estimated 10,000 patients over three months, Americares is providing funding to supply a partner health organization in Lebanon with more than 19,000 intravenous treatments, which will be distributed to six hospitals. The Ministry of Public Health has identified a nationwide shortage of critical emergency intravenous medications needed for trauma and emergency surgical care.
• Americares is supporting mobile medical clinics and a primary care center in southern Lebanon with emergency funding. Over six months, the funding will make possible medical consultations, diagnostic services and essential medications to people in conflict‑affected villages and those in shelters, providing care to an estimated 2,200 people in the South and Nabatieh governorates. The mobile team will provide essential primary care, medications and referrals directly inside shelters, reducing pressure on overwhelmed health facilities.
• Americares is funding urgent, community‑based mental health services for people who are displaced or affected by the Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. The project will provide Psychological First Aid, structured group support sessions and psychosocial activities for children and caregivers across North Lebanon, Saida and Tyre and serve both displaced Palestinian refugees and host communities.