Statement in solidarity with the American University of Beirut
The Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC) expresses solidarity with the American University of Beirut (AUB)
On March 2, 2026, a few days after the beginning of the US-Israel attack on Iran (almost universally recognized as contrary to international law), Israel launched a military campaign and ground incursions into Lebanon - officially in retaliation for Hezbollah's attacks, which the militia in turn justified as a response to Ali Khamenei's assassination.
We observe in this context a familiar pattern of disproportionate material and human destruction. More than 100 villages and towns have been evacuated under Israeli orders, forcing tens of thousands of families to flee with little notice. There are already hundreds of dead and wounded; and more than 750,000 people have been displaced in a matter of days, with people moving toward Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and northern districts. Thousands find themselves camping in the open air, sleeping in cars, or crowded in schools and public buildings turned into shelters. Yet another humanitarian crisis is looming, while Israel targets not only Beirut's southern districts were Hezbollah has its power base, but also civil buildings in the city center.
In these terrible circumstances, we wish to express our solidarity with our colleagues, partners, and friends of the American University of Beirut, with which MARC collaborates, as well as with the broader academic and medical communities in Lebanon. Students, faculty and staff have been displaced; danger is constantly imminent; lives are disrupted and at risk at many levels. Yet the AUB remains committed to its educational mission. Our profession makes us well aware that universities and healthcare institutions are embedded in societies; and when these endure war, displacement, economic strain and collective grief, the work of their members - faculty, clinicians, students, staff - becomes even more vital for documenting lived experiences, sustaining systems of care, and preserving spaces for knowledge, reflection, and hope.
With admiration and sympathy, we stand with our colleagues in Lebanon who continue to study, teach, research, heal, and support their communities; and we send them our support in their struggle to maintain dignity, knowledge, and care amid violence, crisis and uncertainty. We remain committed to collaboration, dialogue, and the shared values that connect academic and healthcare communities across borders.
