Update: Typhoon Yagi and Lebanon emergency responses

Typhoon Yagi, one of the strongest storms to hit Southeast Asia in decades, brought severe flooding and landslides to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.

Widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and agriculture displaced hundreds of thousands of people and affected every aspect of life, including food supply.

Thanks to the generosity of our Jesuit Mission family, our local partners delivered essential food supplies and drinking water to communities in Vietnam, assisted families and repaired schools in Laos, and provided 18,000 people in Myanmar with food, medicine, shelter, livelihood opportunities, and education programs.

"Amid the turmoil and uncertainty, a powerful light of courage has shone brightly through the darkness. 2024 has brought its own tests, with intensified conflict and devastating floods affecting countless lives in Myanmar. But even in the face of these hardships, the spirit of the people is hard to break." – A Jesuit in Myanmar.

Lebanon

Since September 2024, intensive bombing devastated Lebanon, displacing over 1.2 million people.

The humanitarian situation was dire, with 75% of hospitals under critical strain and 85% of shelters operating at or above capacity. Coupled with the country’s ongoing economic crisis, this escalating violence pushed vulnerable families to the brink, with women and children most severely affected.

Thanks to your vital contributions, Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East and North Africa (JRS MENA) were able to provide immediate emergency support to collective shelters – many of which are located in Jesuit schools and Jesuit-run centres.

Through our Emergency Action Fund, you helped deliver over 5,000 meals, 1,900 food baskets and 9,000 litres of clean drinking water, along with cleaning kits, blankets, heating fuel and ongoing psychosocial support for over 14,000 displaced people and many more in the years to come.

"This work isn’t just about providing aid; it’s about restoring hope," – Nada Al Myr, Project Director for JRS Baalbek, Lebanon.