The scale of the humanitarian emergency currently unfolding across Lebanon is staggering, but its impact is far from uniform. Since the escalation of hostilities began on March 2, a profound and gendered catastrophe has taken hold, forcing an estimated 620,000 women and girls to flee their homes in search of safety. This figure represents nearly one-quarter of the entire female population of the country. Perhaps more telling of the crisis’s disproportionate weight is that women and girls now make up more than half of the total displaced population. This demographic includes a complex tapestry of Lebanese citizens, Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and migrant worker communities, all of whom are now tethered together by the shared trauma of loss and the uncertainty of a life in transit.
This mass displacement did not occur in a vacuum. It is unfolding against a backdrop of deep-seated structural inequalities that have long marginalized women in Lebanon. Even before the current escalation, women faced significant hurdles, including restricted access to independent income, unequal legal protections under various personal status laws, and a general lack of access to essential social services. In a country already reeling from a protracted economic collapse and political instability, these pre-existing vulnerabilities have become the foundation upon which the current crisis is built. Today, the loss of livelihoods and the total breakdown of community support systems are compounding these issues, leaving women with fewer resources to navigate the dangers of displacement.
The stories emerging from the frontlines of this migration are harrowing. Many women describe the agonizing moment of departure—often fleeing into the night with no clear destination, leaving behind not just their physical possessions, but their sense of security and everything familiar. For many, the choice to leave was a desperate gamble between the immediate threat of violence and the long-term uncertainty of homelessness. In the rush to survive, families have seen their livelihoods vanish overnight, leaving women to shoulder the burden of providing for children and elderly relatives with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs.
One of the most concerning aspects of this displacement is where these women are seeking refuge. According to recent data, a staggering 85 percent of displaced women and girls are living outside of formal, organized shelters. Instead, they are crammed into overcrowded apartments, unfinished buildings, or informal makeshift arrangements. The urban centers of Beirut and the surrounding Mount Lebanon governorate have become the primary hubs for this influx, hosting the largest numbers of the displaced. These are not merely "difficult" living conditions; they are environments that foster serious protection risks. In the cramped, high-stress atmosphere of informal housing, women and girls are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and various forms of gender-based violence.
The erosion of the rule of law and the disruption of essential services have only served to heighten these dangers. As protection and justice services—including the police and specialized NGOs—are forced to scale back or suspend operations due to the conflict, women find themselves with nowhere to turn. The traditional mechanisms for reporting violations or seeking legal protection have been weakened, creating a vacuum where perpetrators can act with a sense of impunity. For a woman facing domestic abuse or exploitation in an overcrowded apartment in Beirut, the path to safety is now blocked by both physical conflict and a systemic failure of support.
The physical toll of the crisis is equally visible in the daily struggle for survival. There is a growing trend of self-sacrifice among displaced mothers; many report that they are skipping meals entirely to ensure their children have something to eat. This nutritional deficit is occurring at a time when the physical demands on these women are at an all-time high. Furthermore, the crisis has placed the lives of the elderly at extreme risk. Older women, who often suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension, are increasingly going without life-saving medication. The disruption of supply chains and the prohibitive cost of healthcare mean that manageable conditions are rapidly turning into life-threatening emergencies.
The reproductive health crisis is another urgent concern. Pregnant women are being forced to navigate the complexities of displacement while facing a near-total lack of maternal care. Reports have surfaced of women giving birth in crowded shelters or informal settings without the assistance of skilled medical professionals or access to sterile environments. This lack of hygiene supplies and prenatal care is creating a health catastrophe that will have long-term implications for both mothers and their newborns. The basic dignity of menstrual hygiene has also become a luxury, with many women unable to access or afford essential supplies, further impacting their health and mobility.
Beneath the physical struggles lies a profound mental health crisis. The psychological weight of the past months is manifesting in a rise of constant fear, chronic sleeplessness, and total physical and emotional exhaustion among women. They are often forced to act as the emotional anchors for their families, comforting terrified children and maintaining a semblance of order while their own internal worlds are collapsing. The trauma of displacement, combined with the constant threat of further violence, has created a state of perpetual high alert that is unsustainable.
Yet, in the face of these overwhelming odds, the narrative of women in Lebanon is not solely one of victimhood. As has been the case in almost every global crisis, women are at the absolute forefront of the humanitarian response. They are the ones organizing community support, managing the distribution of scarce resources, and caring for the most vulnerable members of displaced families. In many instances, women are working to de-escalate tensions within overcrowded shelters and host communities, acting as mediators and peacebuilders even as they themselves grapple with the loss of their own homes. Their leadership is often invisible and unpaid, but it is the primary engine keeping many displaced communities afloat.
Recognizing this, international organizations like UN Women are intensifying their efforts on the ground. The focus is currently on scaling up lifesaving protection services and providing cash-for-work and livelihood support specifically tailored to women. These programs are designed not just to provide immediate relief, but to restore a sense of agency and economic independence to women who have lost everything. By strengthening coordination across the humanitarian sector, there is a concerted effort to ensure that the broader response is "gender-responsive"—meaning it accounts for the specific needs and risks faced by women and girls rather than treating the displaced population as a monolithic group.
Furthermore, there is a push to amplify the role of women in decision-making processes. Historically, women have been excluded from the high-level negotiations that determine the future of their countries, despite being the ones who bear the brunt of the consequences. Ensuring that displaced women have a seat at the table is essential for creating a response that is both effective and sustainable.
The international community is now being called upon to recognize the gravity of the situation. There is an urgent need for a total de-escalation of the conflict and a renewed commitment to international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of civilians and ensures that aid can reach those most in need. Beyond the immediate cessation of hostilities, there is a desperate need for a massive scale-up in humanitarian assistance. This aid must be delivered with a gender-sensitive lens, prioritizing the health, safety, and economic stability of the 620,000 women and girls whose lives have been upended.
The crisis in Lebanon is a stark reminder that when conflict strikes, it does not hit everyone equally. It seeks out the cracks in society—the pre-existing inequalities and the marginalized communities—and widens them. To ignore the specific plight of women and girls in this displacement crisis is to ignore the reality of the humanitarian situation on the ground. As the world watches the escalation in the region, the focus must remain on those who are currently skipping meals, giving birth in shelters, and holding their families together in the dark. Their survival is not just a matter of humanitarian aid; it is a matter of justice and the fundamental right to live in safety and dignity.
