At least 19,502 displaced persons fleeing Israeli bombardments and escalating conflict in Lebanon have sought refuge in Rojava, an area of Syria governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The AANES swiftly implemented crucial measures to manage the influx of displaced people into the region, which include both Lebanese nationals and Syrian nationals who had settled in Lebanon after the civil war, the majority of whom are women and children.
According to information provided by Amnesty International to the Lebanese Government, approximately 1,200,000 Lebanese have been displaced since the start of the Israeli offensive. The AANES set up a crisis task force to ensure the safe arrival and resettlement of those fleeing Lebanon. Based at the Ebu Kehef border crossing near Manbij (Minbic), the task force provides vital humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, and medical aid. The Newroz Foundation and the AANES representative in Lebanon have also played a key role in assisting Syrians wishing to return from Lebanon.
Despite the efforts of the local authorities, humanitarian aid from international organisations has remained limited. Muntehe Yeşmav, co-chair of the Manbij Canton Social and Labour Council, stated that AANES had contacted various international aid organisations with no significant response, with only the Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd) stepping up to provide emergency health care.
Most Syrian national returnees are reunited with family members or resettled in their original homes. For those without relatives or homes in the region, the Autonomous Administration has provided accommodation in camps. Meanwhile, over 3000 displaced persons await aid at Syrian-Lebanon border.
