Current developments in Lebanon – Cap Anamur on site
The brutal attacks on Lebanon have been going on for almost two months and have now forced over 1.4 million people to flee. Cap Anamur continues to provide emergency aid and supplies to the refugees.
The situation in Lebanon is escalating once again. In recent days, there have been air and drone strikes, including a particularly severe attack on the Palestinian refugee camp Ein el-Hilweh in Sidon. At least 14 people, including 12 children, were killed and others injured.
The UN has condemned the attacks on civilians and the Lebanese population as a breach of the November 2024 ceasefire. UN Special Rapporteur Morris Tidball-Binz has described these incidents as war crimes and violations of the UN Charter. The repeated attacks show that the ceasefire is increasingly being broken and that the situation in Lebanon remains extremely fragile.
Why patient numbers have declined in recent months
Before the latest attack, we had observed a significant decline in patient numbers in our projects. The ongoing insecurity in Lebanon and the increase in forced deportations of Syrians led to numerous shelters being cleared and many people being forced to leave the region.
Some of the Syrian population has also returned voluntarily. This often happens only after they have personally assessed the security situation in their areas of origin. Small financial incentives from the new Lebanese government also played a role in this.
Economic need and declining aid
At the same time, many families simply could no longer afford medical care in Lebanon. The already difficult economic situation has worsened further and living conditions have deteriorated massively:
- Imported products and medicines are extremely expensive, and prices for local goods have also risen sharply.
- Many Syrian and Palestinian families are withdrawing from public life due to insecurity and economic constraints.
- Numerous international aid organisations have reduced their activities or withdrawn altogether due to the lower number of patients.
- UNHCR will stop payments to registered refugees in Lebanon at the end of 2025, and UNICEF plans to end school support for Syrian children from June 2026. This will remove key support structures that have provided a minimum level of security for many families.
Nevertheless, many Syrian families decide to remain in Lebanon. Particularly in rural areas of Syria, there are still no prospects for education, medical care or stable livelihoods.
Return and prospects in Syria
According to Volker Rath, our chairman and project coordinator for Lebanon, the developments are complex: many Syrians have been working as harvest workers in Lebanon for decades. From 2015 onwards, many stayed permanently and brought their families with them. At that time, wages fell to around 1 US dollar per day due to the oversupply of labour. Wages have since risen slightly again, so that those who have work can at least manage to survive on a low income.
Those returning to Syria are mainly heading for cities such as Damascus, Homs and Aleppo, which continue to maintain a certain level of infrastructure despite the crisis. For these people, it is possible to slowly rebuild a future in their old homeland. Those who come from rural areas, on the other hand, are still waiting: Syrian agriculture needs enormous support to become productive again. Machinery, seeds and other resources are lacking, so complete stabilisation will probably take at least two years.
Why our presence is particularly important now
Now, with the security situation worsening again due to the recent attacks, our continued presence on the ground is crucial. Many international aid organisations have reduced their work or withdrawn altogether due to declining patient numbers. This is exactly where Cap Anamur comes in: we are filling this gap, remaining on the ground and ensuring that medical care remains available even in difficult times.
Our mobile clinics reach people who would otherwise have no access to overburdened hospitals. We can respond immediately when the number of patients rises again – without interruption. For families who often have nowhere else to turn, our presence means reliable medical care and much-needed stability in their everyday lives.
By filling this gap, Cap Anamur not only ensures that people receive the care they need, but also gives them hope and prospects for the future. Every examination and every treatment counts and ensures that the most vulnerable families in Lebanon are not left alone.
Our work in Sidon
Since 2016, Cap Anamur has been supporting Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Sidon, who are among the most vulnerable groups. Five schools have been converted into emergency shelters, and our mobile clinics provide daily care to people who would otherwise have no access to medical assistance. We ensure medical care even as food and medicine prices rise and families can barely afford the bare necessities.
Every patient counts. Every treatment can save lives. Even amid uncertainty, escalation and economic hardship, we are doing everything we can to ensure that our medical assistance remains available.