Photo credit: UNHCR / Houssam Hariri
UNHCR has operated in Lebanon for many years and is committed to staying and delivering for as long as needed. Over a month ago, Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon, triggering a humanitarian catastrophe. These past weeks have been among the deadliest and most devastating for Lebanon in decades.
Following this devastating rise in conflict, UNHCR has been working hard to ensure teams continue to deliver and support its partner organisations across Lebanon to coordinate the humanitarian response and meet the needs of Lebanon’s refugees and conflict-affected people across the country.
With winter nearing, @UNHCRLebanon joined a UN humanitarian convoy to deliver critical aid to people displaced by deadly Israeli airstrikes.#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/4oWNcfkiQR
— UK for UNHCR (@UNRefugeesUK) October 25, 2024
How is UNHCR responding to the Lebanon crisis right now?
Cash assistance
Most refugees flee with the bare essentials – just the clothes on their backs and the belongings in their arms. UNHCR provides cash assistance to the most vulnerable families – helping them get back on their feet and stay alive through the toughest of times.
Since 23rd September, UNHCR has provided over 275,000 Lebanese and refugee individuals with cash assistance for shelter and other essential needs, and over 348,000 individuals overall since October 2023. This gives refugees and displaced people immediate relief to use on emergency items.
Relief items
Those who have had to flee their homes have left with nothing. People who are fleeing into Syria need assistance when they arrive at their destinations. UNHCR is providing relief items and assistance for both Syrian and Lebanese families.
At the crossing points into Syria, UNHCR is supporting new arrivals from Lebanon with core relief items such as hygiene kits, blankets, winter clothes, food and water. UNHCR has distributed over 197,000 relief items to more than 124,000 people since 23rd September. This includes essential items that many people might take for granted.
Medical aid
UNHCR and WHO have delivered 60 trauma kits to the Ministry of Public Health at Rafik Hariri Airport, each containing medical supplies to support up to 50 patients. UNHCR trauma kits are emergency medical supplies that assist hospitals in performing urgent surgeries and delivering critical care. The kits are often provided in times of need, such as when facilities are overstretched.
In addition to this, mobile clinics run by UNHCR partner, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), have delivered emergency medical care to over 2,000 individuals at border crossing points.
UNHCR is also working to obtain 10 much-needed ambulances, which will support evacuation efforts of patients from destroyed structures and for transfers of critical patients between hospitals. These ambulances will other services that are overwhelmed by the current needs.
In addition to this, UNHCR is also providing a Central Registration & Identification Scheme (CRIs) and psychosocial support to those arriving at border crossings. This support helps those affected to deal with the crisis and help their families in the right way, helping them feel safe and providing a sense of security and community.
Transportation and border support
More than 425,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon, fleeing the violence, 70% of whom are Syrians and about 30% Lebanese nationals. UNHCR is present at the main border crossing points into Syria, along with local authorities and SARC, providing food, water, blankets, and mattresses to new arrivals.
UNHCR is also helping to transport the most vulnerable families from the borders to their destinations inside Syria. Through partners, UNHCR is also providing medical assistance, including primary and emergency health services.
Housing
UNHCR teams are working relentlessly with humanitarian partners and Lebanese authorities to urgently find safe shelter for those without any. There are currently more than 1,110 government-assigned collective shelters hosting over 189,000 displaced people. Most of these shelters have already reached maximum capacity.
UNHCR also provides shelter support outside the collective shelters in informal settlements and urban areas.
Since October 2023, more than 34,000 affected people have received shelter support, including rehabilitation works, enhanced access to water, and improved privacy through gender separation.
Legal assistance
Legal assistance continues to be provided at the crossing points by UNHCR and its partners, Syria Trust and SARC. This includes border entry facilitation, issuing replacement identification for lost or missing documents, authentication for marriage and birth registrations, and more.
Lebanon crisis facts you need to know…
- The Government of Lebanon estimates that 1.3 million people are now displaced – of whom 1 million were displaced in just one week (starting 23rd September). These numbers are staggering for a country as small as Lebanon, with a population of only 5.8 million.
- The conflict has caused massive destruction, with over 2,700 deaths and 12,600 injuries, exacerbating Lebanon’s already fragile situation.
- Many Lebanese and Syrian refugees have fled to Syria, where 56% of arrivals are children. UNHCR, along with partners, is providing relief, medical assistance and shelter.
Continue to support Lebanon’s refugees…
As the violence persists, the situation in Lebanon is still critical and requires your support to help UNHCR to continue to provide essential services to Lebanon’s refugees and conflict-affected people.
You can learn more about how to help Lebanon here, including what your donations go towards, how to raise awareness of the crisis by being an advocate and suggestions on how you can fundraise for UK for UNHCR.
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Useful links:
- Donate to UK for UNHCR to the support those fleeing Lebanon.
- Learn more about the Lebanon emergency.
- Discover how to help Lebanon.
- Read more refugee facts.
- For more in depth data, please visit ReliefWeb.
