March 13, 2026 in Lebanon: "Being alone here makes it even harder"

By CARE Staff March 13, 2026

Collapsed building with debris blocking a street in an urban area. Surrounding structures appear intact. The scene conveys destruction and disruption.

Dispatches from Lebanon

Read firsthand accounts from CARE staff responding to the rapidly shifting needs in Lebanon.

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Kumari’s Story

Kumari is a 54‑year‑old domestic worker from Sri Lanka who lives in a small one‑room studio in the suburbs of northeast Beirut. Since the recent escalation in hostilities, her health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes, have made it hard for her to work.

“Being alone here makes it even harder,” said Kumari. “I keep thinking about my daughter and my mother back home.”

She came to a distribution organized by CARE and its local partner, Nusaned, to access essential items such as food, water, and basic healthcare supplies.

Every night the sound of airstrikes fills the sky and I am terrified... I keep thinking about my daughter and my mother back home — and I fear that because of this war, I may never see them again.

Kumari

54-year-old woman from Sri Lanka

Images from Beirut, March 13, 2026

Across the country, schools and soccer stadiums are now serving as emergency shelters. Authorities, communities, and humanitarian organizations are working to support the sudden arrival of displaced people.

In the centers where CARE has provided assistance, families are using every available space for shelter. Some have mattresses or tents, while others are sleeping on the floor. People are exhausted and living with constant anxiety as the sound of bombing continues day and night, especially in Beirut.

All photos by CARE.

Man in beanie and striped sweater stands with crossed arms in front of a makeshift tent. Urban buildings are visible in the background, under clear skies. A man stands with arms crossed in front of a makeshift tent by the seaside, with a child and a parked scooter nearby. The mood is resilient. Two people in casual clothing work near a makeshift tent with scattered belongings in an urban area, with high-rise buildings in the background. The scene conveys resilience and resourcefulness. A man and child stand outside a makeshift tent, framed by urban buildings. A boy sits on a scooter nearby, conveying resilience and adaptability. Collapsed building with debris blocking a street in an urban area. Surrounding structures appear intact. The scene conveys destruction and disruption. Crumpled car under debris on a street, with a closed shop named A motorcycle travels down a deserted street lined with debris and buildings damaged by conflict. Smoke rises from the ruins, conveying destruction and desolation. Urban street with damaged buildings and rubble. Skyscrapers in the background, debris scattered, conveying a sense of destruction and abandonment. Collapsed building with debris and rubble in an urban street. Nearby structures show signs of damage. The scene conveys destruction and chaos. Urban street with tall, damaged buildings and debris blocking the road. The scene conveys a sense of desolation and abandonment in a city setting. Displaced toddler-Lebanon Rows of beige tents are set up under a large concrete structure with exposed beams and pillars, creating a temporary shelter space. The atmosphere is utilitarian. Clothes hang on a railing under a large stadium roof, with empty blue seats in the background and a cityscape under a clear blue sky. A woman in a blue headscarf carries a baby in a teddy bear blanket. They are in a dimly lit concrete structure; the baby gazes calmly at the camera. Two young children sit inside an old, red Nissan truck filled with belongings. One child leans playfully on the seat, while the other sits in the driver's seat. A car with people on top parked near makeshift tents on a dirt area. In the background, a cityscape with tall buildings under a clear blue sky. Three children sit on a rooftop car rack in an urban area. The sky is clear, and city buildings form the backdrop. Their expressions are serious. Two children sit on a car roof surrounded by makeshift textiles, with a city skyline in the background under a clear blue sky, evoking resilience.
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Beirut, Lebanon: March 13, 2026

Sami poses for a photo outside his temporary shelter at the beachfront.

Read the March 11 dispatch: 759,000 people have fled their homes

Lebanon is facing one of the most severe impacts of the growing Middle East crisis, with more than 759,000 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.

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Dispatches from Lebanon Lebanon Middle East and North Africa

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