In brief
Hania Zataari's pioneering solution is making a difference for families affected by the war, addressing urgent needs with technology.
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has compelled many families to flee their homes, surviving under dire circumstances. Amid this chaos, Hania Zataari, a mechanical engineer working for the Lebanese Ministry of Industry, has utilized her technical skills to create an innovative solution aimed at alleviating the suffering of displaced individuals. After conflicts escalated dramatically in September 2023, with thousands seeking refuge in Sidon following intense military actions, Hania developed a chatbot, informally dubbed the "aidbot," on the popular messaging platform WhatsApp.Many in Sidon lost their homes, livelihoods, and belongings as conflict disrupted daily life. "They lost their houses, their savings, their work, everything they built," Hania reflects, highlighting the tragic plight of those affected. With the Lebanese government reporting significant casualties, and thousands displaced, Hania was compelled to act. Recognizing that those who were not receiving governmental support needed urgent help, she designed the aidbot to streamline the process of aid distribution.The aidbot, an artificial intelligence-powered tool, facilitates communication by asking users straightforward questions regarding their needs, such as food or basic medical supplies, and records this information on a Google spreadsheet. Hania and her team, consisting of volunteers including friends and family, utilize the gathered data to provide necessities such as food parcels, mattresses, and clothing. The aidbot's efficiency is evident as it substantially reduces the time required for Hania to respond individually to aid requests over WhatsApp. For example, when a request for baby formula is submitted, the bot collects essential details like the baby’s age and quantity needed, enabling effective resource allocation. Supported by donations from the Lebanese diaspora, Hania has created a transparent dashboard to monitor expenditures and aid distributions, with 78 food parcels, 900 mattresses, and 323 blankets delivered thus far.Interviews with individuals impacted by the conflict, like Khaldoun Abbas, reveal the pressing need for such initiatives. Khaldoun’s family sought refuge in Sidon after being advised by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to evacuate due to safety concerns. With his home destroyed, he, along with 16 family members, now rely on the aidbot to provide essential supplies.Despite the bot's positive impact, challenges persist in the broader landscape of aid distribution. Bilal Merie, one of Hania's volunteers, mentions a serious imbalance between the escalating demand for assistance and the dwindling supply. The economic turmoil plaguing Lebanon exacerbates the situation, complicating the ability to procure necessary goods. International organizations like UNICEF express their struggles with funding shortfalls, further stressing the need for reliable mechanisms for support.Experts remain cautiously optimistic about the aidbot's implementation. John Bryant, a researcher from the Overseas Development Institute, notes the unique cultural understanding embedded in the aidbot's design. However, he warns that while it serves as an effective localized solution, scalability to other regions facing humanitarian crises may be limited.Though the aidbot does not resolve all the complexities of Lebanon's predicaments, it has certainly eased the burden for many families desperately seeking assistance during these turbulent times.
