Lebanon's Armenians in Need of Assistance: Statement by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau

“We must support the survival of our institutions, without which the Armenian community in Lebanon will be seriously at risk,” stated the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau in a recent announcement.

“Since October 2019, the crisis in Lebanon has been presenting new and dangerous manifestations. Since September 2024, the country has been continually subjected to attacks, resulting in a state of war prevailing in Lebanon. Areas including southern Beirut and its outskirts, the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek, and many others have witnessed numerous bombings. The number of casualties has reached approximately 3,000, with 13,000 injured. Residential buildings have been completely destroyed, and plots of land have been burned. According to official data, the number of internally displaced persons has surpassed 1,200,000. Refugees are seeking shelter in relatively safer areas throughout Lebanon, including Burj Hammoud, Ain Jir, and other Armenian neighborhoods.

To date, Armenian citizens and communities have not suffered significant damage from the war. The ARF Lebanon Central Committee is closely monitoring the situation in the country, including the political, military, and social conditions, maintaining a continuous liaison with national authorities, Armenian political parties, allied organizations, and charitable institutions to contribute to the colony's security and work on finding solutions to the emerging difficulties.

However, the situation remains extremely concerning in the absence of immediate political solutions. We are facing a serious crisis. It is essential to strengthen security measures. Our educational institutions must remain open. We need to reach out to those in need, the numbers of which will inevitably increase over time. Our organization, with its clubs, offices, and structures, along with allied organizations (Women's Union of Armenia, Scouts, and Hamazkayin), despite its vigorous activities, is facing a serious challenge to survive, having reached the minimum capacity.

The community is in dire social and economic conditions. Employers and businesses are closed or face the threat of closure. Unemployment has risen, and rents for goods and apartments have skyrocketed, complicated by the presence of refugees. Despite this situation, it is necessary to stay on our feet. We jointly have the obligation to support the survival of our institutions, without which the Armenian community in Lebanon will be seriously endangered.

It is futile to reiterate the overall significance of Middle Eastern and specifically Lebanese communities for the Armenian nationwide context. Therefore, in the current desperate circumstances, aiding the Armenian population in Lebanon should be considered a duty for all of us. To this end, fundraising has already begun in several of our regions, with more campaigns set to start in other areas soon. We call on our people to actively participate in this new crisis to support the Armenian community in Lebanon.

ARF Bureau