The United Nations, together with the Government of Lebanon, on Tuesday launched a US$371.4 million extension of the Lebanon Flash Appeal to provide life-saving assistance to civilians affected by the recent conflict and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The appeal targets one million Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Palestinian refugees from Syria, and migrants for an additional three months.
The Lebanon Flash Appeal was originally launched on October 1, 2024, to cover the period until December 2024, after Israeli attacks escalated into war last September. The Flash Appeal complements the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP) 2025, which remains the primary planning framework for the humanitarian and stabilization response in the country.
"While the cessation of hostilities offers hope, over 125,000 people remain displaced, and hundreds of thousands more face immense challenges rebuilding their lives. An additional $371.4 million is urgently required to sustain life-saving efforts and prevent further deterioration of an already dire situation," said Imran Riza, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon.
More than a month after the cessation of hostilities in early November, the humanitarian needs in the country remain critical. While more than 880,000 people displaced by the conflict have begun to return to their homes, many are finding their homes, infrastructure and essential services damaged or destroyed.
According to the World Bank, nearly 100,000 housing units in conflict-affected areas have been either completely destroyed or partially damaged.
In addition, nearly 125,000 people remain displaced outside their areas of origin and are unable to return, including to the more than 60 villages and areas to which the Israeli army continues to reiterate that civilians should not return.
On November 27, a fragile ceasefire agreement went into effect. According to the agreement, Hezbollah troops will move north of the Litani River and Israeli troops will withdraw from southern Lebanon. The agreement provides for an initial two-month cessation of hostilities. Thousands of Lebanese troops and blue helmets from the UN Observer Mission, as well as an international panel, monitor the implementation of the agreement.
The appeal, announced today at the Grand Serail in Beirut by Riza and Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Saade el-Shami, extends the emergency efforts to cover the period from January to March 2025.
“The Government of Lebanon remains committed to leading a coordinated, transparent and accountable response,” said Saade el-Shami.
“Our aim is to focus together on bridging immediate humanitarian needs with long-term recovery planning, in the most efficient and transparent way. However, the scale of this crisis exceeds the resources available, underscoring the necessity of robust international support to sustain and expand these efforts.”
The conflict, which began in October 2023 and intensified over a devastating six-week period from late September to early November 2024, has left more than 4,040 civilians dead, including 290 children and 790 women, more than 16,600 injured, and more than 1 million people displaced.
“While additional humanitarian assistance is essential, Lebanon’s institutions and public sector also require significant support to prevent the collapse of basic and social services and address the urgent needs of citizens,” said Nasser Yassin, the Lebanese Minister of Environment and Coordinator of the Government Emergency Committee.
“Similarly, municipalities and local authorities urgently need emergency funding to maintain their operations, given their frontline role and the heavy burden they bear as a result of the war.”
The extended appeal prioritizes food assistance, winterization support, emergency repairs, and protection of civilians, while addressing gaps in healthcare, water, and education infrastructure.
The war has taken a devastating toll on health infrastructure, affecting one in ten hospitals and killing more than 240 health workers in the line of duty, resulting in overwhelming health needs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health services have been severely affected by the war, with at least 160 attacks on health facilities and personnel recorded.
As Lebanon continues to grapple with the aftermath of the conflict, the Lebanese government and humanitarian organizations are urging the international community to step up its support. They stress that sustained funding and resources are essential to stabilize the situation, deliver aid to those in need, and enable Lebanon to recover from one of the darkest chapters in its modern history.
In September 2024, hostilities in Lebanon were massively escalated by Israel, with thousands of airstrikes carried out across Lebanese territory. Lebanon experienced its deadliest conflict since the end of the country's civil war in 1990.
An estimated 1.8 million people were directly affected by the war and uprooted from their homes. While Lebanese officials put the number at 1.3 million, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 900,000 people were internally displaced.
More than 557,000 people crossed into Syria during the devastating six-week period. In December, authorities estimated that some 90,000 people had entered Lebanon from Syria.
Before the situation deteriorated across Lebanon in September, the country was already in the grip of a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Further information
Full text: Flash Appeal: Lebanon, Covering the period January-March 2025 (January 2025), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), report, published January 6, 2025 / launched January 7, 2025
https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/flash-appeal-lebanon-covering-period-january-march-2025-january-2025-enar