Lebanon (MNN) — Things are heating up on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah and the Israeli army have exchanged tit-for-tat fire since the war began in Gaza six weeks ago. Now, the range and intensity of the fighting are increasing, and both sides are using deadlier weapons.
See our coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here.
An estimated 29,000 people have fled the border area since October 7. “A lot of people have been fleeing to Beirut or anywhere they can get away from that border area,” Pierre Houssney with Horizons International says.
“[Others] are fleeing to villages not quite on the border area but are still in the south.”
Now, those who remained in southern Lebanon have to flee again as the war creeps further inland.
Throughout Lebanon, Horizons staff members meet with people in their homes to share the Gospel and pray together.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Horizons International)
“We have partner churches providing mattresses so that the internally displaced people can sleep in the churches; that’s an opportunity to show the love of Christ to them,” Houssney says.
“Every time we give medical or food aid in these areas, it glorifies Christ, and people are coming to faith as a result.”
You can help Horizons International show God’s enduring presence and steadfast compassion as Lebanon collapses.
“We’ve had layers and layers of crises, compounding since 2011 when the Syrian crisis started. Then, the economic crisis of 2019, COVID in 2020, the [Beirut port] explosion in 2020; [there are] lots of refugees here, one in four people in this country [is a refugee,]” Houssney says.
“Crisis has almost become our (Lebanon’s) status quo.”
Along with food aid, Horizons International’s field staff wants to deliver care packages to displaced families in Lebanon. The packs will consist of hygiene and first aid items, things that are essential yet often inaccessible to those on the run. Here’s how you can help.
Syrian refugees throughout Lebanon often live in terrible conditions in camps and slums. Horizons staff members in Tyre (southern Lebanon) shared the Gospel with these refugee families in a beautiful outdoor setting! (Photo, caption courtesy of Horizons International)
