125 People, One Kitchen, One Goal: Getting through this together in Lebanon
Zeinab is originally from Deir Al-Zahrani in South Lebanon but had been living in the southern suburbs of Beirut before the conflict forced her to leave. When the situation escalated, she and her extended family had to make a difficult decision. With some relatives still in Deir Al-Zahrani and others in Beirut, they chose to come together and seek refuge in Beit Chabeb, a place they were familiar with from a previous displacement in 2006.
“We knew this place from before. It felt natural to come back,” Zeinab says. “I also work with the team here on a voluntary basis, so there was already a connection. We came automatically.”
At the collective shelter, Action Against Hunger with the support of the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), provided essential support, including core relief items, food, cleaning supplies, and hygiene kits for women. “Every initiative helps,” Zeinab explains. “We see all support as a step toward standing back on our feet. Even individual efforts, even just moral support—it all makes a difference.”
The needs at the shelter remained significant. The group of 125 displaced people shared a single kitchen, preparing meals for everyone. “Most of us fled with just summer clothes. We left when it was still warm, and now people are struggling to buy warmer clothes. There are things we still lack.”
Despite everything, Zeinab remained deeply attached to her home. “A house is more than a structure—it’s your small homeland,” she says. “Here is still home, just another part of it. But my real home, the one I built my life around, is the one I want to return to. I want to be there with my family, safe and at peace.”
For Zeinab, what keeps her going is a sense of responsibility. “If we give up, our country gives up. If each of us falls, the whole structure weakens,” she says. “What helps is the support we receive, from organizations like Action Against Hunger, from people around us. Not every institution is able to help, and the government is struggling, but people are standing by each other. That’s what makes the difference.”
In the shelter, families have organized themselves to maintain a sense of normalcy. “We’ve divided tasks, like in a household. Some handle cooking, others cleaning, some help with studying. We’ve created small committees, making sure things run smoothly. It helps us hold on, because we are trying to live, not just survive.”
To those who have never experienced displacement, Zeinab has a simple message: “I hope you never have to. I pray you never face this. We are managing, but many others are struggling beyond what words can explain—financially, physically, and emotionally. Just recently, a friend of mine had to stay two extra days in the hospital even after his treatment was completed because he couldn’t afford to pay the bill. The hospital refused to discharge him until the payment was made. Here in the shelter, we pooled together whatever little money we had to help him pay the hospital bill to discharge him. That’s the reality for many.”
And for those responsible for finding solutions, Zeinab’s words are clear: “Have mercy. You are not dealing with numbers or statistics—you are dealing with people. Families, children, elderly. They deserve to live normally. They have lost enough.”
Despite the challenges of displacement, Zeinab remained focused on keeping her family together and maintaining a sense of normality. Her story reflects the difficult reality faced by those uprooted by conflict and highlights the importance of continued humanitarian support. Through initiatives like the project named: Upscale multi-sectoral emergency response focusing on food security, basic assistance, WASH, nutrition and health support to vulnerable individuals in South and Nabatiyeh governorate, implemented by Action Against Hungerwith support from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), families like Zeinab’s receive essential assistance—including food, hygiene supplies, and other basic necessities—helping them navigate this difficult period with dignity.
