Jeannette Frangieh,Founder and Director,Himaya Daem Aataa
The past two months have been a period of intense and often overwhelming challenges,both on a personal level and for HIMAYA DAEM AATAA,the NGO I founded. The emergency and security situation in Lebanon has been unprecedented. Personally,I have found myself constantly navigating the emotional toll of uncertainty,fear,and the weight of responsibility,knowing that the communities we serve are facing unimaginable hardship. As an NGO leader,my role has demanded flexibility,resilience,and an unwavering commitment to our mission,even when the landscape seemed volatile and unpredictable.
For our organisation,this has been a time of adaptation. We’ve had to pivot quickly in response to the rapidly changing context,ensuring the safety of our staff,maintaining essential services,and continuing to support the most vulnerable,even as access and resources became increasingly limited. Many of the communities we serve have been directly affected by the violence,and I’ve seen firsthand how quickly the fabric of social cohesion can unravel when security is threatened. Our team has worked tirelessly to provide support,but the situation has demanded that we remain agile,responsive,and deeply committed to the long-term vision of peace and stability for Lebanon.
Now,with the ceasefire in place,there’s a sense of cautious optimism. However,the reality is that this is just the beginning of a long jouey toward recovery. I know we face deep-rooted challenges in rebuilding trust,stabilising livelihoods,and restoring social cohesion but I’m driven by my belief in the resilience of the Lebanese people. From an NGO perspective,we are now focused on adapting our strategies to this new phase,assessing how the ceasefire holds,and determining how we can best support the communities affected by months of violence and insecurity.
Our immediate priorities are focused on providing psychological support,rebuilding livelihoods,and working alongside local communities to re-establish trust and social cohesion. Also,we are adapting our programmes to ensure that we are not only providing emergency relief but also supporting long-term rehabilitation and peacebuilding efforts that will be needed to address the structural challenges in Lebanon.
Additionally,we are working to expand our capacity to engage in long-term peacebuilding,focusing on creating stronger partnerships with other local and inteational organisations,advocating for the rights of displaced populations,and ensuring that the voices of those most affected by the conflict are heard at every table.
We remain committed to being part of the solution. HIMAYA DAEM AATAA will continue to play a key role in advocating for inclusive peacebuilding,empowering women and marginalised groups,and driving forward a vision of Lebanon where all communities feel represented and secure. The challenges ahead will be significant and real change will take time,but I am confident that Lebanon can emerge from this crisis stronger and more united.