"United in Compassion: Lebanese Join Forces to Support Those Displaced"

 "As the number of individuals displaced by Israeli attacks continues to rise, local communities are mobilizing to provide support." 

"Beirut, Lebanon – At Nation Station, a communal kitchen in the Geitawi neighborhood, volunteers bustle about, arranging food on a table. Meanwhile, others stir meat, cook rice, and chop lettuce, sharing lighthearted conversations."

“Fifty meals!” a volunteer calls out to his teammates, marking a milestone. They respond with a spirited cheer, all while keeping up their work.

In this petrol station-turned-communal kitchen, volunteers are busy preparing meals for shelters housing those who have been forced to flee their homes. 

At the non-profit organization Nation Station, volunteers are working to provide meals for individuals displaced by Israeli bombardment in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 26, 2024. [Mohamed Azakir/Reuters]

One Million Displaced

Before the intense bombardment of southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs began on September 23, over 110,000 people had already been displaced from their homes during 11 months of ongoing cross-border attacks.

Last Monday’s escalation forced many more to flee, and the situation worsened on Friday when Israel flattened an entire block in a southern suburb of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and other officials.

Following this, the Israeli army ordered large parts of Beirut's suburbs, already reeling from the previous week's attacks, to evacuate.

Makeshift Camp for Displaced Families on the Beach 

Displaced children play in a makeshift camp at a beach in Beirut, Lebanon, where many displaced people have sought refuge, October 1, 2024. [Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters]

In the aftermath, Prime Minister Najib Mikati reported that as many as one million people—about one-fifth of the country’s population—were displaced.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Education designated several schools as temporary shelters for the displaced, while hotel and rental occupancy surged.

However, the Lebanese state's resources are limited. The country is now in its fifth year of a devastating economic and banking crisis, largely attributed to the ruling political class.

### Influencers in Action

In the Ramlet al-Bayda neighborhood of Beirut, students bustle about, their voices nearly drowned out by the hum of the air circulation system. They work in groups, with some constructing boxes while others fill them with essential items like dry food, water, and cleaning supplies. Once assembled, the boxes are passed along an assembly line into a parked white van, guided by a young man giving instructions.

When full, the vans set off for areas of the country where the need is greatest.

In Beirut’s Ramlet al-Bayda Neighborhood

A group of students prepares aid boxes for the displaced on September 27, 2024. [Lina Malers/Al Jazeera]

This initiative was launched by three social media influencers—Ghena Sandid, Farah Dika, and Sara Fawaz—who, lacking an organization or even a name for their effort, mobilized their followers to secure a free underground parking garage to organize and distribute the aid.

Donations from abroad have also poured in, but Lebanon’s banking crisis, which began in 2019, has complicated many fundraising efforts. To navigate this, Dika shared with Al Jazeera that Western Union had increased her transfer limit.

“At first, we thought we’d only have a small group of 10 to 15 people helping,” Sandid recalled. “That quickly grew to around 450 students, who have provided aid to over 50 schools across 30 regions in Lebanon.”

"We’re All the Same"

Outside the garage, teenager Zoey Zein stood with her friends. “I came to help because I want people to know there are those who care and are ready to assist as long as they need.”

This grassroots effort has supplied aid to thousands, but the groups are struggling to keep pace with the rising number of displaced individuals.

Aid Ready for Delivery 

Packages containing food staples and essential items await loading into vans for distribution across Beirut. [Lina Malers/Al Jazeera]

“One challenge we face is that we initially aimed to serve 1,000 people,” Dika explained. “Now that number has risen to 5,000.” Dika spoke to Al Jazeera on Friday afternoon, just hours before the strikes that killed Nasrallah.

Since then, the number of displaced individuals has surged, with many now resorting to sleeping in parks.