Statement by David Miliband, IRC President and CEO, after trip to Syria and Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon, April 3, 2026 - Following a visit to Syria and Lebanon from 29 March - 2 April, International Rescue Committee (IRC) President and CEO David Miliband said,

"I have just returned from Syria and Lebanon, where I saw firsthand the depth of need facing families living through both ongoing conflict and the after-effects of conflict. The Iran crisis has global ramifications but its most direct effects are on the countries and people of the region. These effects are direct - people killed, families displaced - and indirect, with economies stalled and needs exacerbated. This is the cycle that both countries are seeking to escape.

"There is no substitute for hearing directly from those living through the consequences of war. Syria may be described as 'post-conflict,' but the reality on the ground tells a story of ongoing struggle. The damage is visible everywhere, in shattered buildings, overstretched services, and in the lives of people still trying to rebuild. In Homs, one of the cities hardest hit during the war, I met families who have returned home carrying the full weight of what they have endured. I also met Syrians who had recently fled renewed violence in Lebanon, only to return to Syria in search of safety, an extraordinary reversal that underscores the way in which trauma can be redoubled. Their stories were marked by hope, loss, fear, and courage in equal measure.

"Lebanon has throughout its history been the victim of other people's wars, and that remains the case today. The situation is generally absent from the headlines but deserves urgent attention. Over 1 million people have been displaced in just four weeks. I visited a school now serving as a shelter for displaced families, where classrooms have become living spaces and uncertainty shapes daily life. Families spoke of rising costs, limited access to services, and the strain of prolonged displacement. Many are navigating impossible choices about whether to stay or move on. Lebanon continues to shoulder significant pressure, and without sustained support, conditions risk deteriorating further. Lebanon risks a humanitarian Groundhog Day of displacement and insecurity - a population that has faced unrelenting crises, now forced to start again with fewer resources each time. Without an urgent scale-up in funding, access and protection, the gap between need and response will widen further.

"Across both countries, I saw the work of IRC teams delivering essential support, from health services and protection programs in Syria to assistance for displaced families in Lebanon. IRC stood with people in Syria and Lebanon throughout years of crisis, and we remain committed to standing with them now. This is not a moment for the world to look away. While headlines are temporary, the needs of families living through the aftermath of another conflict remain."