Lebanon, a small country in the Levant with a surface area of 10,452 square kilometres, is home to an estimated 5.8 million people as of 2024. Established under the French Mandate in 1920 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, it gained independence in 1943. Despite its modest size, Lebanon has long played a pivotal role in the Middle East, often at the centre of regional dynamics and humanitarian efforts.

Today, Lebanon grapples with overlapping crises, including political instability, economic collapse, and limited access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and employment. These challenges have created immense hardship for both displaced communities and the host population, straining resources and deepening socio-economic fragility. The situation demands urgent attention to address the growing needs of those living on the margins of an already precarious system.

Lebanese Civil War: A Painful Legacy

The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) remains a defining and deeply traumatic chapter in the nation’s history. The conflict entrenched Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, which fragments political authority and undermines effective governance to this day. Over one million people were displaced, creating one of the largest diasporas in the world, while the war devastated infrastructure and economic stability.

The aftermath of the war left deep social scars, fostering mistrust and weakening cohesion among Lebanon’s religious and ethnic communities. The unresolved grievances and divisions from this period continue to shape Lebanon’s political and social challenges, impeding progress and exacerbating the fragility of the state.

Refugee Crisis: A Humanitarian and Political Challenge

Lebanon has long been a sanctuary for displaced populations, hosting over 500,000 Palestinian refugees for decades and, since 2011, an additional 1.5 million Syrian refugees, making it the country with the highest number of refugees per capita globally. This influx has placed enormous pressure on public services, with refugees now accounting for roughly 25% of the population. Over 90% of Syrian refugees live in extreme poverty, struggling to access housing, healthcare, and education.

The refugee presence has heightened tensions in Lebanon’s confessional political system, where power is shared among religious sects. Although refugees have no political representation, their demographic impact stokes fears about the balance of power. This has led to growing polarisation, with some communities viewing the prolonged crisis as a threat to Lebanon’s fragile stability.

International support remains critical to addressing immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying governance challenges, both of which are essential to stabilising Lebanon and its host communities.

Economic Collapse: A Devastating Impact

Lebanon’s economic collapse, ranked among the three worst financial crises globally since the mid-19th century, is a result of decades of mismanagement, corruption, and political instability. The crisis erupted in 2019 during mass protests over taxes and corruption, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating Beirut port explosion in 2020.

The economy has contracted sharply, with GDP plummeting from $55 billion in 2018 to $20.5 billion in 2022, and the Lebanese pound losing 95% of its value. Hyperinflation has driven poverty to affect over 74% of the population, with nearly half living in extreme poverty. Banking restrictions have left depositors unable to access their savings, fueling social unrest.

The crisis is compounded by regional conflicts, including tensions with Israel and Hezbollah, causing an estimated $8.5 billion in damage. Public services are in collapse, leaving Lebanon struggling to meet even basic needs amidst this historic economic downturn.

Recent Developments: Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis

The escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel since late 2023 has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, displacing over 1.2 million people internally and forcing 528,000 to flee to Syria. Many are seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters, schools, and abandoned buildings, with children among the most vulnerable, facing limited access to essentials and lasting trauma.

Israeli airstrikes have worsened the situation, targeting areas beyond Hezbollah strongholds and deepening sectarian tensions. Displaced Shiite families are often viewed with suspicion, and local warnings in some communities have urged them to leave, isolating them further.

The initial solidarity shown to the displaced has given way to mistrust, destabilising Lebanon’s fragile social fabric and compounding its political and humanitarian crises.

2017: The Beginnings

In 2017, ClimbAID’s pioneering project, A Rolling Rock, brought joy and movement to the Beqaa Valley. The mobile climbing wall, built in Zurich and shipped to Lebanon, overcame significant bureaucratic challenges to deliver 18 climbing sessions in camps, parks, and schoolyards.

The programme reached 400 participants of all ages, fostering social connections across Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities. Young volunteers from these groups began facilitating sessions, developing new skills and a passion for climbing. However, operations paused in November due to seasonal rain, with A Rolling Rock relocated to Beirut, where it became stationary at Cirquenciel.

Key Context: Lebanon hosted 1.5 million Syrian refugees in 2017, equating to one-third of its population. In the Beqaa Valley, 80% of refugees lived in poverty.

2018: Strengthening Roots

Building on its initial success, ClimbAID expanded its reach in 2018, serving about 400 participants in 200 climbing sessions across the Beqaa Valley. Activities targeted children and adolescents from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds.

Key achievements included transitioning project management to local project manager and registered the climbing truck in Lebanon, officially giving it “Lebanese citizenship.” Preparations for a permanent climbing wall began, symbolising a commitment to sustainability. The year culminated in the first Beqaa Bouldering Competition, uniting 40 climbers and fostering a sense of shared achievement.

Key Context: Lebanon continued to host 1.5 million refugees, while humanitarian aid funding declined. Tensions between local and refugee populations rose due to competition for resources and jobs, making initiatives promoting social cohesion critical.

2019: A Home for Climbing

The highlight of 2019 was the opening of The ARC (Standing Rock), ClimbAID’s first permanent climbing facility in Taanayel. This milestone provided a year-round safe space for climbing and community-building activities. Alongside this, outdoor climbing trips introduced participants to newly bolted routes at Wadi Al Dalm, deepening their connection with nature.

The year saw 400 participants across 238 sessions, with 7 climbers from Beqaa competing in Lebanon’s Bouldering Championships. ClimbAID’s Academy was launched to equip youth with leadership and climbing skills.

Key Context: By late 2019, Lebanon’s economy was collapsing, with poverty and unemployment surging. These crises exacerbated challenges for refugees and marginalised Lebanese communities.

2020: Resilience in Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic and Beirut port explosion defined 2020 as a year of unprecedented challenges. Despite this, ClimbAID maintained operations, adapting with online initiatives and launching the YouCLIMB curriculum. This 9-session PSS programme reached 48 adolescents, improving their self-esteem and mental well-being.

Climbing sessions in Karantina, one of the port areas devastated by the port explosion, brought relief to nearly 100 children. ClimbABILITY piloted offering inclusive activities for youth with disabilities, and the first outdoor crag in Beqaa was developed with seven climbing routes.

Key Context: Lebanon’s economic collapse worsened in 2020, with 88% of Syrian families living in poverty. Strict lockdowns exacerbated social isolation and mental health challenges.

2021: Building Local Leadership

ClimbAID prioritised localisation in 2021, with 16 local volunteers delivering over 200 sessions, engaging 421 participants. The YouCLIMB programme expanded, serving 104 adolescents. Gender-specific initiatives like the women-only climbing team provided safe spaces for personal growth and connection.

The fourth Beqaa Bouldering Competition brought together 65 climbers, showcasing the resilience and enthusiasm of the climbing community despite Lebanon’s deepening crises.

Key Context: Lebanon’s hyperinflation and rising poverty reached catastrophic levels, with 80% of the population living below the poverty line. The deteriorating situation limited mobility and access to basic services.

2022: Evidence of Impact

In 2022, ClimbAID collaborated with leading universities to validate the effectiveness of YouCLIMB. The study highlighted significant improvements in mental health, resilience, and social cohesion among the 233 study participants.

With 10 local staff managing operations, ClimbAID continued to provide essential services despite soaring costs. The climbing wall became an increasingly important resource for the community as the economic crisis deepened, impacting families’ access to education and healthcare.

Key Context: Lebanon’s currency lost over 90% of its value, and hyperinflation rendered basic goods unaffordable. The country’s infrastructure, including education and healthcare, was on the verge of collapse.

2023: Adapting to Adversity

In 2023, ClimbAID’s activities reached 420 participants, with YouCLIMB serving 145 adolescents. The sixth Beqaa Bouldering Competition united 91 climbers, providing moments of normalcy in a year marked by crisis.

However, escalating costs, funding shortages, and security risks forced ClimbAID to reassess its presence in the Beqaa Valley. Staff turnover and Lebanon’s brain drain compounded these challenges, threatening the sustainability of operations.

Key Context: By 2023, 80% of Lebanon’s population lived below the poverty line. Rising tensions due to deportation campaigns and conflict in the south heightened instability, further straining humanitarian efforts.

2024 / 2025: Facing an Uncertain Future

As ClimbAID approaches 2024 and 2025, the situation in Lebanon has reached critical levels. Operations in the Beqaa Valley have been significantly scaled back, with The ARC climbing wall under threat of closure due to the deepening poverty and worsening security risks that make participation increasingly difficult. Many families can no longer afford the costs of transportation or spare the time from meeting basic survival needs, further restricting access to sessions.

Plans to host a Bouldering Competition in Beirut, in collaboration with the Lebanese Climbing Federation, and implement a focused psychosocial support (PSS) programme in partnership with an international mental health NGO, have been indefinitely postponed. The volatile and deteriorating conditions in Lebanon have rendered such large-scale initiatives temporarily unfeasible.

Current efforts are concentrated on keeping The ARC operational for the local community and providing PSS sessions to the displaced children and youth who live on the compound. This scaled-back approach reflects ClimbAID’s commitment to the community while the broader humanitarian landscape grows more precarious.

Key Context: The ongoing war and escalating regional tensions have created a profound humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Bombings across the country, coupled with deportation campaigns targeting refugees, have exacerbated insecurity nationwide. These issues are compounded by a crippling economic collapse and widespread poverty, leaving families in survival mode and deprioritising long-term psychosocial support initiatives. The psychological toll of these crises is immense, with Gallup reporting that 74% of residents experience chronic anger and sadness