Since October, escalating conflict in Lebanon has displaced over a million people, destroying homes, schools, and ancient olive groves that carried livelihoods and traditions for generations. A ceasefire was announced on Tuesday 26 November, to take effect the following morning. It is critical that this fragile peace holds, as the people of Lebanon endure unimaginable hardships.
We’ve worked alongside our incredible partner, SAWA for Development and Aid, for seven years. Their unwavering commitment to their community inspires us daily. Among their many initiatives is the school we support in the Bekaa Valley. Recently, they’ve focused on emergency relief—delivering essential supplies, shelter, and hot meals to displaced families.
Last week, I spoke with Fares, SAWA’s Programme Director, about the situation on the ground. His resilience, despite the grim circumstances, was humbling.
Fares lives in central Beirut with his wife and four children, aged six to fourteen. He shared that bombs strike daily, and military drones hover over their home at night. He described the deafening noise of sonic booms, the shaking windows, and the fear etched on his children’s faces.
His youngest child asks if anyone was inside the bombed buildings they pass. Fares reassures him, saying, “No, they left before,” though he knows it’s often untrue. His children long to return to school—something they usually dread after summer—yet schools remain shut due to the war.
Amidst all this, Fares also worries for his wife, a breast cancer survivor who relies on medication that has skyrocketed in price from $10 to $50 a bottle. The fear of losing access to it weighs heavily on him.
Despite these personal and collective challenges, Fares and the SAWA team continue their work—providing shelter, hot meals, and education to displaced communities. Their determination is a profound testament to hope, resilience, and humanity.
As the ceasefire begins, the road to rebuilding lives and livelihoods is long. But together, we can help. That’s why we’re asking you to support our Match Funding Appeal, running until Wednesday 4 December. Every £1 donated online will be matched, doubling the impact of your generosity—up to £25,000.
Your support will ensure families like Fares’s—and the communities SAWA serves—can begin to heal and rebuild. Please share this appeal widely, and if you’re able, give what you can.
Thank you for standing with us.
Rose Essam
CEO, Action Syria
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