(ANS) – The military operation launched on February 28, 2026 by the United States and Israel in Iran quickly spread to other countries in the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and the Holy Land. Thousands of families are fleeing the bombings, leaving everything behind. The Salesians active in these countries have once again opened their doors to welcome the suffering population, while Salesian organizations worldwide are mobilizing to gather and channel relief aid.

The Commitment of “Missioni Don Bosco”

“Concern, suffering, and disorientation are the emotions I perceived while listening to the voices of my confreres—Fr. Simon from Beirut, Fr. Emanuele from Jerusalem, and Fr. Pier from Aleppo—who are currently in this terrible theater of war,” testified Fr. Luca Barone, President of Missioni Don Bosco, the Salesian Mission Office based in Turin.

“They are the voices of those who deeply love their people, who have become one with the lands where Salesian houses are now refuges for those fleeing—shelters where people can receive food and medicine, homes where they can be welcomed, and places of prayer where they can find faith and consolation. I assured my confreres that Missioni Don Bosco is here to give voice to them.”

The Situation in the Different Territories

In the Holy Land, schools in Nazareth and Bethlehem have been closed, and residents have been forced to seek refuge. In Damascus, Syria, rocket fragments falling in the Jaramana area caused explosions, leading to the precautionary closure of the Salesian center. In Lebanon, raids struck Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and several areas in the north and south. Numerous casualties and injured individuals have already been reported, along with tens of thousands of newly displaced persons, worsening an already precarious humanitarian situation. The activities of the two schools, Don Bosco Technique and Angels of Peace, have been suspended.

Immediate Assistance to the Displaced in Lebanon

In Lebanon, the Salesians immediately provided initial shelter in houses that remained open, helping displaced people, those who lost their homes, and those searching for a safe place. As during the 2024 conflict, the Salesian house of El Houssoun has already welcomed about 116 displaced people, including two newborns, a mother who recently gave birth, and twelve elderly persons. Many families arrived after a 16-hour journey covering 110 kilometers due to extreme traffic congestion caused by the mass exodus from the bombings.

The Needs of Families and Children

Currently, this group also includes 45 children who fled overnight from the southern regions. Almost all displaced persons arrived without clothes or personal belongings, in a location where winter temperatures drop to about 3°C.

“We must guarantee the basic needs for all these people—warm clothing, food, and water—and this is our immediate focus,” explained Joe Attalla, Director of the Don Bosco work in Lebanon. Families reached the Salesian center exhausted and with very few belongings, making it a priority to ensure dignified conditions from the outset.

Classrooms Transformed into Emergency Shelters

“The classrooms of the center were quickly transformed into welcoming spaces with mattresses, blankets, and basic humanitarian aid kits, but we need help. The displaced need food, blankets, warm clothing, and essential supplies, especially for children and the elderly,” reported the coordinators of the emergency response.

International Solidarity and Emergency Aid Campaign

In response, Missioni Don Bosco immediately launched a campaign to gather resources to provide immediate assistance to displaced people, offer psychological support to the most vulnerable, and support Salesians working on the ground so they can address this new emergency effectively.

For more information, visit: www.missionidonbosco.org.