The Good Shepherd Sisters warned that civilians are paying the highest price as violence escalates in Iran and across the Middle East.
In a statement, the congregation said more than 500,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in just over a week, with families arriving at shelters with nothing.
“As violence escalates in Iran and across the Middle East, we watch with deep concern,” the sisters said. “Civilians — especially girls, women, and children — are paying the highest price,” they added.
The sisters lamented that the rapid intensification of military actions “is putting countless lives at immediate risk and deepening an already fragile humanitarian situation.”
The congregation said its sisters and partners in Lebanon are responding to a massive wave of people displaced by the conflict.
“Families are arriving at shelters with absolutely nothing and urgently need food, basic medical supplies, and safe housing,” they said. “They are exhausted, afraid, and weary from reliving the trauma of past conflicts.”
The Good Shepherd community said it is ensuring the safety of evacuated staff and sisters in Beirut while delivering urgent medical and psychosocial support through the Saint-Antoine Dispensary and the Good Shepherd mission.
The congregation also appealed for international action to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
“As Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, we advocate for a just and non-violent resolution to this crisis,” the sisters said.
“We urgently call on global leaders to establish ceasefire safe zones, protect civilians, and step back from the brink of wider conflict by choosing diplomacy over retaliation,” they added.
The congregation also invited the global Good Shepherd community to pray for the safety of those affected and for a swift resolution leading to lasting peace in the region.
