The humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war against Lebanon is reaching catastrophic proportions, with over 1,500 people killed, more than 5,000 injured, and 1.3 million civilians displaced. The IRC reported that collective shelters are overflowing and hospitals face critical medical shortages, depleting three weeks’ worth of trauma supplies in a single day. Communities are turning to mutual aid and grassroots organisations for survival, with these local initiatives stepping up to fill the gaps left by overwhelmed state systems and underfunded international aid, providing essential food, shelter, and medical care.
If you would like to donate to humanitarian relief efforts in Lebanon, we have listed community-led and mutual aid organisations below.
A note on terminology: Community-Led vs. Mutual Aid
Community-led organisations are typically formal, structured entities with established leadership, funding, staff, and long-term programs. They often seek partnerships with governments or larger NGOs.
Mutual aid is a grassroots, horizontal approach where people organize directly among themselves without formal hierarchy, based on solidarity and shared need rather than charity. Decisions are made collectively, focusing on immediate survival needs.
In Lebanon’s current crisis, many organisations are blending approaches, formal NGOs providing crucial infrastructure while mutual aid groups fill gaps in emergency response, often working together to reach those most in need.
Key Organisations to Support
JIBAL NGO
JIBAL is a not-for-profit association founded in Beirut in 2017 (governmental final approval in January 2019). Jibal promotes and advances social and environmental justice, or the fair and equitable distribution of environmental and social benefits (and burdens), in Lebanon through the furthering of collective organisation, accessible and open knowledge, and regenerative principles.
Current Appeal: Following renewed aggression by Israel on 5 March 2026, Jibal has put into action urgent relief efforts, providing shelter to host displaced families. Learning from their experience in 2024, Jibal are providing ingredients so that daily meals can be made for the displaced in central and community kitchens
Ahla Fawda
Ahla Fawda aims to support and empower individuals in vulnerable situations through responsible, sustainable, and tailored projects. Through our initiatives, we aim to create a positive impact, foster an environmentally conscious community, and ultimately work towards a more inclusive, compassionate, and sustainable society.
Current appeal: Ahla Fawda Dekkene, our community relief space, provides free essential goods to families in need. They have already supported three schools in Beirut hosting over 2,000 displaced individuals, and the numbers are rising rapidly as families continue to flee.
Their goal is to raise urgent funds to provide food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter assistance, and emotional support to those affected. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a real difference in the lives of families who have lost everything.
The Great Oven
The Great Oven Lebanon is a community-based initiative in Beirut and the Bekaa, where every activity is built and led in collaboration with the people we serve. We do not operate as a traditional humanitarian agency that views crisis through the detached lens of “service delivery” or “passive beneficiaries.” Instead, we exist as a collective that utilizes the universal languages of food and creativity to reclaim what crisis so often steals: dignity, connection, and agency.
Current appeal:
Humans of Dahieh
Humans of Dahieh is an Instagram account that highlights the real, authentic side of the suburb. Founded by Sara Rammal, along with designer Houssein Al Mahdi, the account offers an intimate look into daily life in Dahieh, told by the people who live it. Their goal is simple: to let the suburb speak for itself, to share its stories, and to welcome anyone curious enough to see it through the eyes of its own residents.
Current appeal: Humans of Dahieh’s fundraiser aims to provide urgent support to displaced families throughout Beirut and Lebanon generally. They are working with their friends and family on the ground directly, to source and deliver life-saving items, including essential needs such as: emergency food and clean water, temporary shelter and blankets, basic medical supplies and medications, hygiene kits, diapers and other necessities for children. and general assistance for families fleeing danger.
Anti-Racism Movement (ARM)
The Anti-Racism Movement (ARM) was launched in 2010 as a grassroots collective by young Lebanese feminist activists in collaboration with migrant domestic workers and organisers. ARM’s vision is to see a just society where all migrants enjoy decent living and working conditions. Our mission is to achieve social, economic, and gender justice for all migrant workers and racialised groups (with a special focus on women migrant domestic workers) in Lebanon.
Current appeal: To respond, ARM has temporarily shifted its operations to:
- Mapping needs of migrant workers and other groups excluded from other responses
- Answering calls for assistance and connecting people to available services
- Offering a staffed and accessible space for communities
- Collecting various types of in-kind donations
- Supporting migrant worker mutual aid initiatives
MAAN Initiative
The MAAN Initiative is a social movement committed to uplifting marginalised communities through advocacy, education, and grassroots outreach. It focuses on addressing pressing social issues such as inequality, poverty, and access to essential services by empowering individuals and fostering community-driven solutions.
Current appeal: MAAN are collecting all sorts of donations for the displaced families of Lebanon. Their first mission will be to provide Iftar meal, mattresses, blankets, and Clothes to these families.
International Humanitarian Organisations
Lebanese Red Cross
The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) is the primary national humanitarian organisation in Lebanon, providing independent emergency medical services (EMS), blood transfusion services, and primary healthcare, acting without discrimination across the country since 1945. Driven by over 13,000 volunteers, the LRC is a key part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, providing services through a network of 32 branches and over 200 local units.
Current appeal: As hostilities intensify and displacement rises, the Lebanese Red Cross continues to provide ambulance services, blood support, healthcare, and relief assistance to people affected across the country.
These community-led organisations are filling critical gaps where formal systems fail, providing immediate relief while building long-term resilience. Their grassroots approach ensures aid reaches those most often overlooked by traditional humanitarian systems.
