Shelter Distribution Reflects Religious, Class, and Regional Factors

The national emergency plan for addressing mass displacement in Lebanon was based on providing shelters in schools located in safe areas. However, the geographic distribution of these shelters was uneven, creating additional challenges. As of 18 November 2024, 187,992 displaced people have been housed in 1,173 official shelters, with the majority located in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

The unequal distribution of shelters, with higher concentrations in regions like Beirut, Tripoli, and Aley districts, placed disproportionate pressure on local infrastructure. Safer regions, such as Keserwan and Baabda districts—despite being closer to conflict zones in the South and Beirut—had fewer shelters compared to more distant districts like Akkar. This imbalance reflected deeper social, religious, and class divisions, reinforcing regional inequality.
Field research also revealed overcrowding in shelters, a lack of accommodations for the elderly and disabled, and insufficient water and electricity supplies.

Overall, the distribution of shelters highlighted a significant regional imbalance, leading to unequal pressure on infrastructure and services, exacerbating social divides, and complicating the response to the displacement crisis. There was an urgent need to ensure a fairer and more effective distribution of shelters.

As for today, after the ceasefire has come into effect and the displaced communities have started returning to their villages, towns, and cities, the question remains about how the state will handle these shelters in the coming period and how it will approach the issue of housing during the reconstruction phase, given that many displaced families have lost their homes and massive destruction has affected many areas and the infrastructure necessary to restore life.