Toronto, ON, April 17, 2026 – In reaction to the announced 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, Plan International Lebanon’s Director of Programs, Alam Janbein, said:

“The announcement is what every displaced family has been longing for. It brings a moment of relief and hope; hope of returning home, of rebuilding, of finding some sense of normalcy again.

But this moment is also filled with deep uncertainty and fear. Many families are asking whether this calm will last beyond the ten days or if they will be forced to flee once again. The fear of repeated displacement remains very real.

For countless families, the path home is not straightforward. Over 140,000 people are living in temporary shelters. Many have lost everything; their homes, their sources of income and their children’s access to education. Roads are damaged, services are disrupted, and even where houses still stand, the future remains unclear. For some, there is simply nothing left to return to.

Plan International will continue to scale up efforts to support children and families in Lebanon as the humanitarian needs remain immense.

More than 2000 lives have been lost, 172 of these were children.

This ceasefire must be more than temporary relief. What people need now is sustained peace, safe conditions for return and the support to rebuild their lives with dignity.” 

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Children never start wars, but they suffer the most. To support children affected by war in Lebanon and other global crises, visit plancanada.ca/donate/children-in-crisis.

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About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships with and for children for over 85 years and is active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind, or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists, and we will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit plancanada.ca for more information.

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