30/07/2026
Four months ago, the aggressions in Lebanon expanded to a new level. In one day, Lebanon was struck over 100 times, causing a new wave of displacement, destruction, injuries and loss of innocent lives. We were all impacted, and we could not stand idle witnessing the migrant communities take the hit again. Once again, displaced migrants were left stranded with limited shelter options, diminishing sources of income and, subsequently, huge gaps in basic needs, safety, and healthcare. Many of them still do not have a home to return to.
Now more than ever, migrant workers, especially women and children, are susceptible to exploitation and trafficking, whether it is by employers benefiting from the exclusion of migrant workers from the law under the Lebanese labour law, or just simply by taking advantage of a person whose home, workplace and neighbourhood were all destroyed.
The reality of migrants in Lebanon during times of war often goes unseen, unheard, and unreported. This is especially true for women who have been subjected to s*x trafficking. The war in Lebanon has aggravated the conditions of migrant women, making them more vulnerable in the face of s*xual abuse.
Today, on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we refuse to see migrant communities and abandoned, especially during intermittent wars or fragile ceasefires that could spark new rounds of violence. We support the communities by ensuring they remain resourceful and sustainable in the face of economic and political adversity. We continue advocating for migrant rights through local initiatives or international frameworks. We stand by our commitment to uplift personal voices and collective or individual needs.
We dedicate this statement to the lives lost in the war and to those who kept caring for others even under shelling.
