"Since March, Israeli attacks on Beirut and the occupation of southern Lebanon have displaced over 1 million people. Families are sheltering with relatives, renting if they can, or sleeping in cars and out in the open, placing immense strain on already fragile infrastructure."
"As humanitarian needs surge, so does the flow of money from abroad. Yet much of this support is not moving through traditional aid channels. Instead, it is being routed through digital fintech platforms to trusted individuals on the ground, who buy necessary items or distribute funds directly to the displaced."
"The UNDP reported that remittance costs there averaged 11 percent, higher than the global average. In times of crisis, these flows often shift towards emergency support. What is different now is how that money moves: Increasingly, it is being sent instantly, peer-to-peer, through digital wallets."
"One grass-roots campaign run by Lebanese lawyer Jad Essayli raised $65,125 in 10 days, purely through social media."
Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon have displaced over 1 million people, straining infrastructure and prompting urgent humanitarian needs. Many have fled to Syria, requiring food and shelter. Financial support is increasingly routed through digital fintech platforms rather than traditional aid channels. Lebanon receives $6-7 billion in remittances annually, with costs averaging 11 percent. During the crisis, informal inflows constitute about 70 percent of financial support, often sent instantly through digital wallets. Grass-roots campaigns have successfully raised funds via social media.
Read at WIRED
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