Over 800,000 people across Lebanon have been forced from their homes in just ten days. Among them are the residents of Aalma Al Shaab, a small border village of ~2500 people where families have lived for generations.
Alma al Shaab is a small coastal village in southern Lebanon, located right on the border with Israel (only about 1 km away). Due to its proximity to the border, it has been caught in the crossfire of Lebanon’s various wars, shaped by a destructive history of conflict.
This campaign supports the people of Alma Al Shaab elderly residents with nowhere else to go and no home but their own, young families with children who have lost everything, farmers and laborers who once depended on the land but now have no livelihood, and displaced families currently struggling to make ends meet, send their children to school, and most importantly find accomodation and the funds to purchase medicine.
Where your donation goes:
There are around roughly 250 displaced families from Alma Chaab, and we are working to raise funds to provide each family with a $100 coupon. We also have lists of people who need medication, as well as students who require support. Additionally, about 6–7 families urgently need help covering rent.
100% of donations will go directly to Mayor Chadi Nayef Sayah of Alma Al Shaab, who is coordinating relief efforts on the ground.
Interviews done by Mr. Sayah:
- https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/Local/1663944/mayor-of-aalma-al-shaab---we-re-exhausted--we-want-to-live-
- https://x.com/HibaNasr/status/2031503476463739159
- https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1498438/christian-villages-in-south-residents-flee-alma-al-shaab-displaced-evacuated-from-rmeish.html
The Immediate Crisis:
The displaced families of Alma Al Shaab face an urgent housing crisis. Finding temporary shelter in Beirut is extremely difficult and expensive landlords are demanding 6 months rent upfront (approximately $3,000 per apartment) due to the current situation. Mayor Chadi estimates that 7 families alone need housing assistance (around $20,000), while 250 families need emergency support coupons at $100 per family ($25,000).
People are already donating locally, and the mayor has formed a committee to ensure complete transparency in distribution.
These funds will start being distributed soon to help families secure housing and meet basic needs.
Mayor Sayah knows every family personally. He is working tirelessly to provide:
- Emergency shelter for families with nowhere to stay in the form of rent
- Food and water for those who fled with nothing
- Basic necessities - blankets, hygiene supplies, children's needs
- Medical assistance for the sick and elderly
- Support for vulnerable families to rebuild when they can return home
The Education Impact
Beyond immediate survival needs, the displacement has created an educational crisis for Alma Al Shaab's children.
169 students from 89 families have had their education disrupted from nursery through university. Scattered across 30+ locations and facing large sums in annual tuition costs, these children need stability during an impossible time. Mayor Chadi tracks every student to ensure aid reaches them. Your donation helps keep an entire generation in school.
Elementary School: 47 students
University: 37 students
Middle School: 34 students
High School: 33 students
Nursery/Preschool: 18 students
Where Displaced Families are now:
Students are scattered across 30+ different areas around Beirut, including.
- Alma Al Shaab area (19 families still trying to remain nearby)
- Fnar (11 families)
- Sin el Fil (10 families)
- Dora (9 families)
- Basaba (7 families)
- New Rawda (7 families)
- Sidon (4 families)
- And 20+ other locations
Transparency: Mayor Sayah will provide detailed documentation of how funds are distributed, including recipient names and aid provided. All donations will be transferred via Western Union directly to him for immediate deployment where needed most.
Mayor Chadi Sayah recently stated: "We want to live. We are tired of leaving our homes. We are not challenging anyone. We want to stay on our land and live with dignity."
Many residents initially refused to leave, sheltering in their church, hoping they wouldn't have to abandon their ancestral village. But when a resident was killed while simply watering his plants, they knew they had no choice. They rang the church bell one last time and left in a convoy, escorted by UN peacekeepers.
How You Can Help
- Donate: Every dollar counts. No amount is too small.
- Share: Even if you can't donate, sharing this campaign with your network helps reach people who can.
Spread Awareness: These families need to know they're not forgotten. This is just one village in what is already proving to be an extremely damaging war. But for these families, it's everything. Your small donation can help an entire community survive.