Providing food assistance after flash floods

Lebanon | 2024 | CBPF

Lebanon, Akkar and North. In early 2024, heavy rains and flash floods affected parts of Lebanon, including North and Akkar states. The rising water levels flooded roads, homes, and businesses in areas like Al-Abdeh and Al-Kanisah in the Akkar Governorate.

Syrian refugee camps on the Akkar plain faced substantial damage, with tents submerged in water, rendering them uninhabitable and ruining the few items refugee families have managed to keep.

Souad shared her harrowing experience: “At 7 o’clock in the morning, we awoke to a distressing sight – water had inundated our tents. We swiftly gathered ourselves and our children, leaving everything behind. When we returned two days later, we discovered our mattresses, food, and the tent frame all irreparably damaged. We were left with nothing!”

Souad’s story echoes the struggles faced by many families affected by the extreme weather.

Many families sought refuge with relatives, while others waited out the storm in a nearby construction site with no windows or doors, enduring harsh conditions. In this makeshift shelter, they endured a challenging 48 hours without food, water, or heating.

With funding from the OCHA-managed Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, NGO Anera distributed food rations to families affected by the floods. This filled a critical gap in response efforts, ensuring people got much-needed help as they grappled with the aftermath of the rains.

For more information: visit the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund website, and for real-time contribution and allocation data go to the Pooled Funds Data Hub.