More than 558 people, including over 50 children, have been killed this week, with the toll rising daily

Islamic Relief has launched a £10 million emergency appeal to support people affected by the escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

More than 558 people, including over 50 children, have now been reported killed this week, and more than 1,800 people wounded, with the toll rising daily.

Thousands of families are fleeing their homes in panic and are now seeking shelter in crowded schools, as Israeli airstrikes tear through neighbourhoods.

After almost a year of gradual escalation, more than 116,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced and are in desperate need of aid.

Islamic Relief’s appeal is looking to raise an initial £10m to expand efforts to provide vital aid to displaced families.

With Israeli attacks on Gaza also continuing unabated, Islamic Relief continues to call for an immediate ceasefire across the region, and for all parties to respect international law and protect civilians.

 Akram Sadeq Ali, Islamic Relief’s country director in Lebanon, said: “The past few days have seen the heaviest attacks on Lebanon in many years. The country has turned upside down and is in complete chaos, with more people fleeing their homes every hour and taking refuge in crowded schools.

“Our team is delivering mattresses and blankets to new arrivals at some of the schools, and we will be providing displaced families with food and medical supplies for clinics. We’re exhausting all efforts to deliver aid to those affected by this crisis.”

Islamic Relief has been working in Lebanon since 2006. Since last October the charity has delivered thousands of food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets and mattresses to families displaced by the escalating attacks, so far helping almost 30,000 displaced people in Nabatieh, Tyre, Bekaa and Balbek.

The charity has also distributed more than 6,900 medical items to hospitals and satellite clinics.

The crisis in Lebanon has been escalating since 8 October 2023, following the Hamas attacks on Israel, with hundreds of Israeli airstrikes destroying some 4,000 residential buildings and significantly damaging 20,000 more. Farms and markets have been damaged, impacting food production and availability.

Access to essential services such as water has been severely disrupted. Over the past year, at least 700 people are thought to have been killed and more than 6,000 injured.

The escalation in Lebanon comes as much of the population struggles to cope with the fallout from a years-long economic crisis.

In 2020, a massive explosion in Beirut killed hundreds of people and destroyed parts of the city, contributing to an economic crisis that deepened in the following years.

Widespread unemployment, poverty, and hyperinflation in Lebanon has left many families unable to afford even the basic essentials such as food, water, and medicine.

People can make donations to the appeal via this link: Lebanon Emergency Appeal - Donate Now | Islamic Relief UK (islamic-relief.org.uk)