Fear of the future has returned to Lebanon, a country that was once predominantly Christian and prosperous. “We had to leave our homes because of the war, but we can hope that we only have to seek shelter elsewhere temporarily. Many families are housed in collective accommodations; others—especially from the south—fear that they will never see their homes again and will end up with nothing,” writes Penelope Boujaoude of Flamme de Charité, the ISHR’s partner organisation in Lebanon, via WhatsApp. Just a few days before the outbreak of the war, the ISHR visited Boujaoude and her team. “We were so happy to have you here again after everything. Thank you so much. This gives our families hope,” she wrote in her farewell message.

Caroline C. (center) between Penelope Boujaoude (right) and her eldest of three daughters, Maria © M. Koller

The charity “Flamme de Charité,” founded in 2020, helps around 200 Christian families in need with subsidies for rent or medical expenses, vouchers for everyday necessities, or educational support. It is precisely among Christians that almost only the most vulnerable remain, those who have lost their livelihoods in the political and economic turmoil and are not caught by any social safety net or foreign power. Many of them feel at the mercy of the Iranian-backed terrorist organisation Hezbollah. While the political low point had just been reached in 2025—the ceasefire in November 2024 was followed in the spring of that year by the appointment, after more than two years of deadlock, of a reform-oriented government of technocrats and experts by the Christian president Joseph Aoun—the renewed impending disaster was already foreshadowed during our visit.

On our way to visit some of the families our partner organisation supports, we encountered a massive traffic jam in the capital, Beirut: long lines of cars were rolling in from the Hezbollah-controlled areas in southern Lebanon. We finally reached Caroline C.’s apartment in the Bourj Hammoud district. This Christian woman supports her two daughters, who require intensive care due to severe hereditary metabolic disorders ( mitochondrial diseases ), and who are unable to speak and are confined to wheelchairs most of the time. When the visitors arrived at the door, the joy was palpable. The youngest daughter squealed with delight and grabbed her hair and bags, pulling the guests close. Penelope Boujaoude told us: “As a driver, the father used to earn enough each month to cover the family’s medication expenses. Now his car has broken down.” Flamme de Charité has been helping them so far by providing subsidies for rent and covering school expenses.

Rosalie (center) next to Penelope Boujaoude on the right and her sister Rose-Mary © M. Koller

We also visited six-year-old Rosalie and her family. Through Flamme de Charité and with support from the ISHR (International Society for Human Rights), a lawyer is currently guiding her through a complicated process to obtain a child's identity card retroactively. Because her parents were so preoccupied with securing their livelihood, they missed the deadline for her official registration. However, she has a right to an identity card. States that, like Lebanon, have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are obligated under Article 7 to ensure the registration of every child at birth. Specifically, this means that, for example, maternity clinics are required to notify the authorities and issue a birth certificate. To date, no agency has contacted the six-year-old. Without official documents, however, she will not be able to complete her schooling. “The family is hopeful,” Penelope Boujaoude summarized the conversation.

The Roman temple complex of Baalbek is a landmark of Lebanon and is located in the heart of a Hezbollah stronghold © M. Koller

ISHR supports Flamme de Charité in its efforts to provide immediate assistance to people in need and to prepare for possible further evacuations. In the days leading up to this publication, a drone attack occurred in Caroline C.’s neighbourhood, underlining the urgency and fragility of the situation.
Through this support, ISHR helps strengthen local emergency assistance and evacuation preparedness for people facing immediate danger.

Not far from Baalbek, these portraits at a crossroads show who controls the area: Hezbollah and, with it, Iran © M. Koller