A Crisis of Accountability: Examining NGO Responses in Lebanon’s Darkest Hours

Why Transparency and Data Gaps Obscure the Realities of Humanitarian Aid Amid Recurring Crises

The goal of this article was to conduct a scientific and in-depth comparison of the humanitarian responses of NGOs during Lebanon’s major crises, including the 2006 Israeli war, the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, and the 2024 conflict. The aim was to analyze how these organizations responded, allocated resources, and supported communities across different emergencies. However, this objective faced significant challenges due to a lack of transparency and cooperation from many NGOs.

Out of more than 30 NGOs contacted, most failed to provide detailed data or insights into their spending and activities. Despite their claims of helping during these crises, they either declined to share information or did not respond at all. A communication manager of one of the most famous NGOs in Lebanon, for instance, replied with a message citing their overwhelming workload:

"Unfortunately, we are currently very loaded with ongoing projects and commitments, and we regret that we are unable to provide the detailed information you’ve requested at this time."