*Names have been changed to safeguard the identities of those interviewed.
April 8, 2026 in Lebanon: In their own words, what people who lost everything need most right now
In a sharp escalation of airstrikes across Lebanon on April 8th—including areas in Beirut that were struck for the first time— hundreds of people were killed and thousands were injured. Shelters are becoming more overcrowded by the hour. More than half of those displaced are women and girls. As CARE delivered essential supplies, people displaced by the violence shared what they need most at this moment.
Samer Zahwe cooks meals for displaced families in Ramlet Bayda, Beirut, as they come together to break their Ramadan fast at Iftar. Photo: CARE
Water
“Two nights ago, my son stopped asking for water. He just lay there, too weak to speak. His lips were cracked, his eyes sunken, and his body felt hot in my arms. I knew something was wrong, but I had no clean water to give him, only what we manage to collect from unsafe sources, which often makes them sick. When CARE brought safe drinking water, it was the first time I felt I could help him, but I am terrified of the moment it runs out.”
– Mariam*, Mother of 4, displaced from South Lebanon
Food assistance
“I have not worked in weeks and every day I watch my children eat less. My youngest has become so thin I can see his ribs, and he no longer has the strength to play. Yesterday, he asked for food and then fell asleep from exhaustion before I could answer. CARE’s food assistance has kept us alive, but because we cannot work and we are displaced, we need this type of support every single day to survive.”
Alia*, Mother of three, displaced from South Lebanon
Jana sleeps on a blanket with her doll along the beach road in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: CARE
Mattresses
“I am an old man, and I sleep on the bare ground. The cold from the floor goes straight into my bones and I wake up in pain every morning, unable to move. There is no rest, only waiting for the night to pass. When CARE gave us mattresses, it changed everything for me.”
– Ziad*, Father of four and grandfather of 14, displaced from the Bekaa
Blankets
“My daughter has been sick for days. She coughs through the night, her body shaking from the cold, and I can feel how weak she has become. We had nothing to cover her, nothing to protect her from the freezing nights. The stress and fear are affecting me too, I’ve had my period twice this month, and my body feels like it is breaking down. When CARE brought blankets, I finally felt I could protect her, but there are still children here sleeping in the cold, getting sicker every night.”
– Marwa*, Mother of three, displaced from South Lebanon
In the waterfront area of Beirut, Mohammed Doghman zips up his tent where he shelters after he was forced to flee his home following airstrikes on civilian areas. Photo: CARE
Shelter
“We fled with nothing, and for days we slept outside on the street. My children were hungry, thirsty, and crying from the cold all at once. I had nothing to give them, no food, no clean water, no place to rest. CARE’s support reached us when we had nothing left, but there are still families outside tonight, going through the same thing. They cannot wait.”
– Karim*, father of four, displaced from South Lebanon
Lebanon is facing one of the most severe impacts of the growing Middle East crisis, with more than a million people displaced and shelters stretched nearly to capacity. Through firsthand accounts from CARE staff, Dispatches from Lebanon offers an on‑the‑ground look at how fuel shortages, insecurity, and rapidly shifting conditions are shaping life for families and frontline responders.