Tzu Chi Relief Efforts in Lebanon: Blankets Delivered Amid Ongoing Conflict

Country: Lebanon Source: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Please refer to the attached file. Following the intense airstrikes on Beirut on April 8, about 1. 2 million people were displaced and faced severe shortages of basic necessities. In response, on April 14, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) transported 6, 228 eco-friendly thick blankets from Jordan to Beirut to support those affected. As Dharma Master Cheng Yen, founder of BTCF, reminds us: “If people’s hearts are not soothed, wars and disasters will not cease. Only through contentment can there be peace of mind and harmony, free from conflict. ” The Shiite Islamic organization Hezbollah was established in Lebanon in 1982. Today, it operates as one of Lebanon’s major political parties while maintaining its own independent armed force. Hezbollah has long-standing ties with Iran and has historically supported efforts to establish an Iranian-style system of Islamic governance in Lebanon. For decades, Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in conflict. Following a major escalation in regional tensions and targeted airstrikes in late February, Hezbollah launched retaliatory missile attacks on Israel, which subsequently triggered a devastating series of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon. Between March 2 and April 11, reports indicated that at least 2, 020 people were killed and 6, 436 were injured in Lebanon. On April 8, Israel conducted another major wave of airstrikes, striking more than 100 locations within ten minutes across southern Lebanon, eastern Lebanon, and the capital city, Beirut. The attacks targeted both military sites and civilian areas, resulting in at least 300 deaths in a single day — the highest death toll in a single incident during the conflict. As a result, approximately 1. 2 million people — about 20% of Lebanon’s population — were displaced. More than 137, 000 people are currently sheltering in nearly 700 temporary shelters, while many others are staying with relatives or in informal community shelters. Access to essential resources remains extremely limited, and living conditions are increasingly severe. In 2025, the Tzu Chi Foundation had shipped 6, 228 ecofriendly thick blankets by sea to Jordan. The original plan was to transport the relief supplies onward by land to Gaza; however, due to border closures, delivery was not possible. In response to the evolving crisis in Lebanon, the blankets were redirected for deployment to Lebanon. Following the April 8 airstrikes, the Jordanian royal family activated emergency relief coordination through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO). JHCO subsequently proposed reallocating the blankets stored in its warehouse for delivery to Lebanon. On April 12, Mr. Chen Qiuhua of BTCF Jordan visited the JHCO office and held discussions with Dr. Marwan (Director of Projects) and Mr. Read (Director of Finance) regarding the relief operation. The initial plan to airlift the supplies on April 12 was changed to overland transport due to airspace restrictions. The convoy departed on the morning of April 23, traveling by truck from Amman through southern Syria, and arrived in Beirut the same afternoon. Upon arrival, the blankets were donated to the Lebanese Red Crescent for distribution to affected communities. With nighttime temperatures dropping to around 4°C, the blanket delivery provided urgently needed warmth and relief to displaced families. The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Its missions of medicine, charity, education, and humanistic culture have brought relief to 139 countries. The heart of Tzu Chi is embedded in its name: in Chinese, “Tzu” means compassion and “Chi” relief, to relieve the suffering of those in need while creating a better world for all through compassion, love and hope. For more information, visit tzuchi. us. For additional information and media inquiries, welcome to contact us through this form.

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