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Announced at the Grand Serail in Beirut by Deputy Prime Minister Saade el-Shami and UN\u00a0Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza, the appeal extends emergency efforts through March 2025.<\/p>\n
It builds on the original Flash Appeal launched in October 2024, following the largest escalation of conflict since the 2006 Lebanon War.<\/p>\n
This extension targets immediate relief for the most vulnerable populations – Lebanese citizens, Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrants – while complementing the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP), which serves as the overarching framework for humanitarian and stabilisation efforts.<\/p>\n
Key priorities include food assistance, winterization support, emergency repairs and civilian protection, alongside addressing gaps in healthcare, water and education infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Despite the severe crises the country has endured over the past 15 years, Mr. Riza described 2024 as one of Lebanon’s darkest years, marked by widespread devastation.<\/p>\n
The conflict, which began in October 2023 and intensified over a devastating six-week period from late September to early November 2024, caused over 4,000 deaths, 16,000 injuries and displaced more than one million people.<\/strong><\/p>\n The destruction of homes, critical infrastructure and essential services further deepened the suffering of those affected.<\/p>\n Despite the cessation of hostilities, over 125,000 people remain displaced\u00a0<\/strong>and hundreds of thousands attempting to return to their homes are \u201cgrieving, struggling and searching for a path forward\u201d, Mr. Riza described.<\/p>\n The Minister of Environment and Coordinator of the Government Emergency Committee, Nasser Yassin explained: \u201cWhile additional humanitarian assistance is essential, Lebanon\u2019s institutions and public sector also require significant support to prevent the collapse of basic and social services.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSimilarly, 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Beyond physical destruction, the psychological impact of the war remains deep, with many people \u2013 especially children \u2013 suffering from trauma that may persist for years.<\/p>\n Mr. Riza called for continued international support to help the country through the winter months and begin recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alongside the UN, the Lebanese Government remains committed to leading a coordinated, transparent and accountable response.<\/p>\n Deputy Prime Minister Saade el-Shami explained: \u201cOur aim is to focus together on bridging immediate humanitarian needs with long-term recovery planning, in the most efficient and transparent way.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, children\u2019s agency UNICEF is providing food and essential items to vulnerable families returning from Syria and facing severe difficulties.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is part of several distributions we\u2019re doing in several locations in collaboration with a number of partners such as the Lebanese Red Cross,\u201d said Akhil Iyer,\u00a0UNICEF Representative in Lebanon.<\/p>\n Sustained funding and resources are essential to stabilise the situation, deliver aid to those in need and enable Lebanon\u2019s recovery from one of the darkest chapters in its modern history.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA month onwards<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The next steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n