Southern Council Sustains Relief Efforts for Displaced Lebanese Amid Financial Strain

As the Israeli military campaign persists and Lebanon grapples with deepening financial and economic crises that strain government institutions, the Southern Council maintains its commitment to humanitarian assistance for families displaced from the south and surrounding areas. The organization aims to ease suffering and provide basic necessities during what many describe as one of the most challenging periods for Lebanese citizens.

Engineer Hashem Haider, who leads the Southern Council while also serving as president of the Lebanese Football Association and vice-president of the Asian Confederation, outlined the organization's response since displacement began. Speaking to media outlets, Haider emphasized that the Council mobilized immediately upon the crisis's onset, coordinating with state authorities and relevant institutions to manage the emergency.

"The humanitarian and national imperative required swift action given the severe hardships our people faced," Haider stated, noting that the Council's existing inventory of mattresses, pillows, and blankets enabled rapid deployment to accommodate initial waves of displaced persons. Subsequent efforts focused on procuring and distributing additional essential supplies.

Relief operations commenced at southern shelter centers before expanding across Lebanon's various regions. The assistance encompasses both centralized shelter facilities and families who found refuge in private homes, while also reaching villages and towns affected by bombardment.

The Council has distributed approximately 200,000 food rations to displaced families and continues providing aid within its operational capacity. In coordination with the Ministry of Energy, the organization purchased roughly 8.2 million liters of diesel from refineries in Zahrani and Tripoli, which was delivered to shelter centers for heating and electricity generation.

Additional support included fuel for water stations serving displaced populations and gasoline allocations to municipalities for generator operations and lighting infrastructure at both shelter centers and private residences. The Council worked across multiple Lebanese regions in partnership with municipal authorities, local and international organizations, and crisis management committees, with particular acknowledgment of coordination efforts in Iqlim al-Kharroub, Jezzine, and other areas.

Haider emphasized that future assistance depends on available financial resources. "As displacement continues, we remain committed to our people's side, providing necessary support despite the financial constraints we face," he remarked. While the government has pledged partial funding for ongoing relief operations, the Southern Council has not received direct international assistance; foreign aid flows through the Higher Relief Commission, which distributes funds via provincial governors.

Haider noted that foreign aid volumes in the current crisis remain significantly lower than contributions received during 2024.

Looking ahead, Haider identified reconstruction as the paramount challenge once hostilities cease. The infrastructure, private property, facilities, and equipment damage is "exceptionally extensive," he said, and state resources alone cannot address reconstruction needs. He called for comprehensive Arab and international support to rebuild destroyed areas and enable Lebanese citizens to resume normal life, appealing specifically to Arab nations and friendly countries for reconstruction assistance.