Aid worker Elsa Softic on Lebanon's worsening humanitarian crisis • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons): Individuals forced to flee their homes but who remain within their country's borders.
• Humanitarian Space: The physical and operational environment required for aid organizations to deliver assistance safely and impartially.
• Collective Shelters: Temporary housing facilities (e.g., schools, gymnasiums) used to accommodate large numbers of displaced people.
• Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers: Essential local facilities providing basic medical services, currently under severe strain or closure.
• International Humanitarian Law (IHL): The body of law that protects individuals who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities, specifically mandating the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
• Buffer Zone: A military-enforced area (4–10 km from the border) where civilians are prohibited from returning.

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1. The Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon

Elsa Softic, Deputy Chief of Operations at Premiere Urgence Internationale, highlights that the conflict has resulted in the displacement of approximately 1 million people—roughly one-fifth of Lebanon's total population.

• Scope of Displacement: Displacement is not limited to the South; it extends to the Bekaa Valley, Hermel, Baalbek, and South Beirut.
• The "Superposition of Crises": Lebanon is currently facing a "multiple-layer" crisis, where the ongoing war compounds an existing, severe economic collapse.
• Buffer Zone Impact: A military-enforced buffer zone (4–10 km deep) prevents over 150,000 people from returning to their homes, severely impacting their mental health and long-term stability.

2. Targeting of Infrastructure and Health Systems

A critical concern raised is the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure, mirroring patterns observed in Gaza.

• Health System Collapse: More than 50 primary health care centers and three hospitals have been forced to close due to violence.
• Specific Case Study: The Jabal Amel hospital in Tyre was targeted while housing 300 IDPs, a direct violation of International Humanitarian Law.
• Host Community Strain: Small villages are struggling to support displaced populations that far exceed their local capacity, leading to a breakdown in basic service delivery.

3. Operational Challenges and Methodology

• Shelter Limitations: In the absence of housing, many are forced into tents or "collective shelters" (schools/gymnasiums). These facilities lack adequate hygiene and infrastructure, and the use of schools for shelter disrupts the education of displaced and local children alike.
• Humanitarian Access: While organizations like Premiere Urgence Internationale utilize long-standing local networks to reach dangerous areas, they face extreme risks. Softic notes that humanitarian workers and first responders are increasingly being targeted.
• Resource Dependency: The ability to provide food and medicine is entirely dependent on donor funding and coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Softic warns that current aid efforts are reaching a breaking point.

4. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• The "Gaza Parallel": Softic argues that the destruction of health infrastructure in Lebanon is a continuation of the tactics used in Gaza. She emphasizes that the international community’s failure to protect civilians in one region sets a dangerous precedent for humanity.
• Resilience vs. Reality: Despite the "amazing resilience" of the Lebanese people—evidenced by their attempts to return home during brief ceasefires—the reality is that many return only to find their homes destroyed, forcing them into a cycle of repeated displacement.
• The "Forgotten" Crisis in Gaza: Softic asserts that the situation in Gaza has worsened as global attention has shifted. She highlights that the ceasefire is not being respected, and humanitarian organizations remain restricted from operating effectively in the territory.

5. Notable Quotes

• "Civilian infrastructures are supposed to be protected by the international humanitarian law... this is a complete fall down that we are witnessing now in Lebanon." — Elsa Softic
• "We need to be very careful about how what we are going to let happen in Lebanon as we let it happen in Gaza. It's saying a lot about what we are going to let happen for the humanity." — Elsa Softic

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Synthesis and Conclusion

The situation in Lebanon is characterized by a rapid deterioration of civilian life, driven by the displacement of 20% of the population and the systematic destruction of health and social infrastructure. The crisis is exacerbated by the pre-existing economic instability of the country and the lack of safe, sustainable shelter for those displaced. Softic concludes that the international community must prioritize the protection of humanitarian space and civilian infrastructure, warning that the current trajectory—if military operations expand further north—will lead to an even greater humanitarian catastrophe. The overarching takeaway is that the normalization of attacks on civilian and medical infrastructure in conflict zones represents a profound failure of international humanitarian standards.