LEBANON: The inalienable right of people to remain on their land under threat
Christian communities threatened with extinction
L’Oeuvre d’Orient* (24.03.2026) – In a recent press release, the French organization L’Œuvre d’Orient expressed its deep concern at the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, launched in the wake of Hezbollah’s attack on Israel. This military escalation is plunging the country into a war with devastating human and social consequences.
More than a million people have been forced to flee their homes, representing nearly one in five Lebanese. The human toll is rising daily, with over a thousand deaths, including more than a hundred children.
This war is hitting the civilian population hard, and often indiscriminately. It is taking place against a backdrop of extreme fragility: for several years, the Lebanese people have endured a succession of economic, social and political crises. In the absence of a fully functioning state, it is now Lebanese associations, international NGOs, churches and local religious communities that are shouldering the burden of the humanitarian response, with dramatically insufficient resources in a global context of declining international aid.
The villages of southern Lebanon: Christian communities threatened with extinction
In southern Lebanon, Christian villages dating back to the early days of Christianity are now almost completely cut off from the rest of the country. These communities stand as a living testimony not only to faith, but also to coexistence in a region that has suffered greatly.
Despite repeated evacuation orders, bombardments, the destruction of homes and churches, and civilian deaths—including that of a priest—more than 10,000 Christians have made the courageous choice to remain in their homes. These people are unarmed and stand as a testament to peace and peaceful resistance.
Today, these villages in southern Lebanon face an existential threat. Christian schools, which were attended by more than 10,000 pupils, both Christian and Muslim, have been damaged or destroyed. The risk of a breakdown in education is once again a major concern in this country.
The prospect of a wider ground incursion and the creation of a buffer zone could lead to the irreversible exile of the inhabitants.
Added to this is concern for the region’s heritage. The archaeological site of Tyre, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and placed under enhanced protection since November 2024, is now directly threatened by Israeli strikes.
L’Œuvre d’Orient’s work: solidarity at the heart of the crisis
Faced with this tragic situation, L’Œuvre d’Orient is fully mobilised. With a local team and volunteers on the ground in Lebanon, it is working to meet the immediate needs of the population. It provides direct support to displaced people being sheltered by religious congregations and local organisations, regardless of their religious affiliation.
L’Œuvre d’Orient supports Christian hospitals, such as Geitawi Hospital and the Daughters of Charity Hospital. It also assists in the preservation of heritage through the ALIPH Foundation, notably by supporting the project to physically protect the archaeological site of Tyre. The work will be carried out in close coordination with the General Directorate of Antiquities (DGA).
Finally, L’Œuvre d’Orient is organising humanitarian aid convoys to southern Lebanon, in coordination with the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and other partners such as Caritas Lebanon. To date, four lorries have transported 50 tonnes of essential supplies to isolated villages, and further convoys are planned in the near future.
Recommendations of L’Oeuvre d’Orient
- L’Œuvre d’Orient calls on the international community to:
- work without delay towards a lasting ceasefire;
- guarantee the protection of civilian populations, in accordance with international humanitarian law;
- maintain humanitarian access to the worst-affected areas;
- mobilise funding commensurate with the scale of the crisis;
- protect Lebanon’s cultural and religious heritage.
Today, the Lebanese people are caught in the grip of a conflict they did not choose. Without swift action, the risk is immense: that of seeing entire communities disappear, communities that embody a history, a faith and a unique model of coexistence.
Since 2020, L’Œuvre d’Orient, thanks to its 80,000 individual French donors, has been able to support 2,986 projects totalling 46 million euros.
(*) English version by Human Rights Without Frontiers
