Lebanon

Lebanon is grappling with its most severe crisis since the 2006 Lebanon war, with a conflict that has killed over 4,000 people, injured over 16,600, affected 1.3 million people, and caused significant displacement and widespread infrastructure damage.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on 27 November 2024 has brought an end to recent hostilities – though daily violations of the ceasefire agreement are reported – , but the scale of damage, of people returning or still displaced means that the humanitarian needs will continue to unfold in parallel to critical needs for recovery and reconstruction. Following the cessation of hostilities, more than 900,000 people started returning to their communities, according to the International Organization for Migration. At the height of the crisis, at least 1.3 million people had been affected, including nearly 900,000 internally displaced. More than 560,000 people had crossed from Lebanon into Syria after 23 September 2024, according to UN Office for the High Commissioner for Refugees. 

As winter approaches, many returning families face a difficult reality of destroyed homes, while critical infrastructure has been severely impacted and essential services such as healthcare, water, and education have been severely disrupted, hampering access to vital services. On top of these immediate needs, the reconstruction and recovery requirements must also be addressed. 

The escalation in hostilities came against a backdrop of a multi-layered and complex governance, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon, which has been marked by a steady deterioration of social stability and systems, and internal and external shocks such as COVID-19 and the Beirut Port explosion in 2020.

Even before the recent escalation of hostilities, food insecurity was worsening, with the Integrated Food Insecurity Phase Classification (IPC) analysis projecting an increase in the number of people who are food insecure, from 19 per cent of the population in March 2024 to 23 per cent by September.

According to the World Bank, the cost of physical damages and economic losses due to the conflict in Lebanon is estimated at US$8.5 billion, while the conflict is estimated to have cut Lebanon’s real GDP growth by at least 6.6 per cent in 2024.

Lebanon hosts approximately 1.5 million displaced Syrians, 180,000 Palestine refugees, 23,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria, and over 11,200 refugees from other countries. Many live in precarious conditions. Displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees face particularly acute levels of poverty and food insecurity.

On 1 October, 2024, the UN and humanitarian partners launched a three-month Flash Appeal in Beirut, Lebanon, with the Government, to address the rapidly escalating humanitarian needs in the country. The $426 million appeal aims to support one million people with humanitarian assistance the until end of 2024. A three-month extension, until March 2025, has been finalized. 

The UN and partners continue to support the Government’s response by providing food, nutrition for children, water and essential supplies such as mattresses and hygiene and emergency health kits. The response is also prioritizing cash transfers for those in need of shelter assistance, strengthening and restoring health, protection and education services.