Twelve days after the expansion of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the resulting large-scale displacement across several regions of the country, Amel Association International stated that the humanitarian situation reveals a complex picture combining strong community solidarity on the one hand and significant institutional shortcomings in the official response on the other.
While local and international humanitarian initiatives have played an important role in alleviating the suffering of displaced families, the challenges linked to the official management of the displacement file have become increasingly visible, requiring a serious and transparent review of the policies and mechanisms currently in place.
Amel Association considers that the current crisis has exposed a number of structural problems in the management of humanitarian response, particularly weak coordination among public authorities, overlapping mandates between relevant ministries, and administrative delays that slow down the delivery of assistance to those most in need. The Association also notes that certain administrative decisions related to the management of shelters and the distribution of aid have raised concerns among humanitarian actors regarding their compliance with standards of transparency and efficiency.
In this context, Amel Association stressed that constructive criticism is an essential component of protecting humanitarian action and ensuring its effectiveness. The purpose of raising these concerns is not to assign blame, but rather to encourage improvements in the national response to the crisis in a manner that safeguards the dignity of displaced persons and strengthens trust between communities and public institutions.
The Association also pointed to several field indicators reflecting weaknesses in the management of displacement, including the controversy surrounding the request for funding to recruit hundreds of social workers to manage shelters, despite the existence of a network of social workers already operating within the Ministry of Social Affairs. In addition, the overlapping responsibilities among ministries involved in shelter management should have been clarified in advance through a comprehensive emergency plan before the crisis erupted.
Amel further noted that the current coordination mechanisms between the government and humanitarian organizations may sometimes delay the delivery of assistance due to the multiplicity of procedures required before distribution operations can take place. An effective humanitarian response requires empowering field actors to act rapidly and flexibly according to humanitarian needs, while maintaining appropriate institutional coordination and oversight.
The Association also expressed concern about the lack of regular and detailed information regarding the scale and types of assistance provided to displaced populations in official daily reports. This lack of transparency limits the ability of civil society and oversight bodies to monitor the distribution of resources and assess their fairness and effectiveness. Transparent reporting on humanitarian aid is essential to strengthening public trust and preventing rumors or doubts regarding the management of resources.
Available information also indicates recurring patterns that reveal structural challenges in crisis management in Lebanon, including limited institutional capacity within certain public entities, insufficient coordination among ministries, municipalities and humanitarian organizations, and concerns regarding the fairness of aid distribution and the risk that it may be influenced by political or local considerations. In addition, limited complaint mechanisms and weak accountability systems further contribute to a sense of distrust among affected communities.
Evidence also points to continuing policy gaps and systemic challenges. The absence of pre-established protocols among the main institutions responsible for crisis management, including the Higher Relief Council, the Disaster Risk Management Unit, and the Ministries of Education and Social Affairs, has resulted in overlapping responsibilities and confusion in decision-making. More broadly, limited human resources, logistical constraints, and insufficient storage infrastructure have undermined the system’s resilience. The heavy reliance on international logistical support also highlights Lebanon’s limited capacity to maintain independent national responses. These gaps underscore the urgent need for reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, clarifying roles, and reducing reliance on external actors.
Amel Association emphasized that these challenges are not entirely new but reflect long-standing gaps in Lebanon’s national emergency management policies. To date, Lebanon lacks a comprehensive national plan for responding to humanitarian crises that clearly defines operational procedures during the first hours of emergencies. Strategic reserves of essential supplies such as fuel, blankets, medicines, and hygiene kits are also lacking, which often forces authorities to rely on improvised solutions during crises.
In light of its humanitarian responsibility and its role in supporting affected communities, Amel Association International called for the urgent implementation of a set of recommendations aimed at improving the management of humanitarian response and ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most in a fair and effective manner.
Among the key recommendations, the Association stressed the need to adopt a comprehensive national emergency plan that includes clear mechanisms for managing displacement and activating a rapid response package within the first 72 hours of crises, including the establishment of pre-positioned stocks of essential supplies and flexible financing mechanisms to enable rapid intervention.
The Association also called for strengthening principles of equity and inclusion in aid distribution through the creation of a transparent and comprehensive beneficiary registration system that takes into account the most vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, older persons, women, and children, while ensuring that distribution processes are based solely on humanitarian needs and free from political or discriminatory considerations.
Amel further emphasized the importance of improving coordination between the government, civil society, and international organizations through the establishment of permanent coordination platforms that enable real-time information sharing and facilitate joint planning of humanitarian responses. The Association also stressed the need to empower municipalities and local authorities and provide them with the resources necessary to fulfill their role in crisis management.
To strengthen public trust, Amel Association called for the establishment of transparent accountability and oversight systems, including clear complaint mechanisms within shelters linked to independent oversight bodies, as well as aid-tracking systems and the regular publication of public reports on distribution operations.
In conclusion, Amel Association International emphasized that the humanitarian crisis facing Lebanon requires the combined efforts of all actors, including governmental institutions, civil society, and international partners. Addressing the crisis requires a spirit of responsibility and cooperation, free from narrow political considerations. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its field work alongside affected communities and to defending the humanitarian principles of dignity, justice, and transparency.
Amel Association stressed that constructive criticism and the urgent implementation of necessary reforms constitute essential steps to ensure an effective humanitarian response that protects the rights of displaced persons and strengthens Lebanon’s capacity to confront future crises.
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