Left and below: Destroyed church buildings in Dardghiya and Safad El-Battikh as a result of daily rocket attacks on southern Lebanon.
Emergency aid for 800 people seeking protection
The town of Jabboulé is located in the north-east of Lebanon. In September, 800 people sought shelter from bomb attacks in the local convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Good Service. The sisters immediately made all available rooms in the convent, school and orphanage available, but were overwhelmed by the large number of people seeking
assistance. ACN immediately helped the convent to procure food, mattresses, blankets and medicines. Mother Jocelyne Joumaa, the Superior General, wrote to us: “We are very grateful that ACN helped us immediately. Please stay by our side. If we tackle the problem together, we can achieve great things. May the Lord bless you.”
2024 was another dark year for Lebanon. With the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, tensions quickly spread to the southern regions of the country. In September, minor skirmishes ultimately escalated into a full-blown war that engulfed the entire country. By October, one million people had fled within the country, making up nearly a fifth of the population. People sought refuge in churches, parish halls, monasteries and schools. Although the Church did its best to meet the needs and requirements of both the displaced people and the locals, it was overwhelmed by the continuing influx of those who had been displaced. ACN provided emergency aid totalling 4.7 million euros.
announced towards the end of November 2024, giving the population a brief respite for the first time. However, a solution to the crisis was still not in sight. To encourage Christian families to stay in their home country, ACN provided emergency aid to ensure that at least their basic needs were met. We also aim to bring hope to young people, who often struggle to see prospects for their future. To this end, we are increasingly supporting youth work. Additionally, we continue to support Church organisations, especially Catholic schools, to prevent them from being closed permanently. At the same time, we continue to carry out projects in support of pastoral care, including Mass stipends, spiritual retreats, vehicles for priests and subsistence aid for religious sisters.
After almost two months of intense fighting, a 60-day ceasefire was
A sister of Our Lady of Good Service cares for displaced families in Jabboulé, Lebanon.
Participants in the university pastoral care programme, which is offered to 1,000 students at universities across Lebanon.
ACN Activity Report 2024 | 65 Middle East – Lebanon |
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