Why We Need Your Help:
The situation in Lebanon has drastically worsened. Recent conflict has caused mass displacement, forcing thousands of families—including from refugee camps in southern Lebanon—to flee to Beirut. Shatila camp, where the NGO Ahlam Lajea ('Dreams of a Refugee' in Arabic) is based, is overwhelmed by new arrivals, and the most vulnerable families are in urgent need of assistance.

We - a group of Irish friends of the founders of a Palestinian NGO in Beirut- are raising emergency funds to provide food for these families.

Here’s how your donation can make a real impact:

- $50 provides a food basket with essential dry goods and cooking oil to sustain a family for two weeks.
- $100 supplies enough dry goods (Rice, pasta etc and cooking oil) to last a family an entire month.
$300 can stock a daily public kitchen that will serve up to 1000 hot meals per day, with Ahlam Lajea’s volunteers and kitchen ready to prepare and distribute them.

As the situation evolves, additional needs may arise, such as medical care or hygiene supplies. We’ll keep this page updated with how your donations are helping.

Who is Ahlam Lajea?
Ahlam Lajea is a grassroots NGO founded by young Palestinians in the Shatila camp in 2011. Officially registered with the Lebanese Ministry of Interior as an NGO, Ahlam Lajea has carried out projects funded by international donors, including from the UK, and has helped over 10,000 Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese individuals. Their work normally focuses on:

- Education services for children in Shatila camp (in Beirut suburbs)
- Gender-based violence prevention
- Sustainable waste management that creates jobs for both Palestinian camp residents & Lebanese neighbours
- Supporting the Palestinian Civil Defence, the only emergency service available in the camps

They also provide emergency relief, like after the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, when they delivered life-saving aid to those in desperate need. They also provide food support to those in need (Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese in the locality of Shatila camp) in the form of weekly or month distributions, and food kitchens that provide hot meals.

Background Information
According to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), between 250,000 and 400,000 Palestinian refugees are currently living in Lebanon. The first refugees arrived in 1948, with more waves following over the decades. This includes approximately 30,000 Palestinians who fled Syria more recently, during the ongoing civil war.

Today, around half of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in overcrowded, deteriorating conditions in 12 refugee camps originally set up in the late 1940s for short-term use. After more than 70 years, these families remain refugees, as Lebanon has not granted them citizenship or equal rights. This includes comprehensive labour rights, severely limiting their ability to build better futures. According to a 2022 UNRWA survey, 93% of Palestinians in Lebanon live in poverty.

How You Can Make a Difference
Your generosity can provide immediate food relief relief and help sustain families through this crisis. Every dollar counts in supporting those who need it most!

Thank you for your kindness and support!