Lebanon

Humanitarian context

Lebanon is going through a serious economic, social, political and health crisis, with the presence of numerous armed groups and the spillover of the Syrian conflict. In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ammonium nitrate explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, the country is experiencing unprecedented inflation, resource shortages, and a collapse of public services. The financial crisis that has hit Lebanon since October 2019 has led to a significant increase in prices and pushed 80% of the population to live below the poverty line. Out of a total population of 6.8 million in Lebanon, UNHCR estimates the number of Syrian refugees at 1.5 million and 13,715 of other nationalities, who are among the most affected by the crises. In the country, some 2.2 million Lebanese, 208,000 Palestinian refugees and 78,000 migrants are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the European Commission. At the same time, 89% of Syrian refugees live in extreme poverty.

Key figures

1996
Year of mission
implementation
168
National staff
9
Expatriate staff
370 395
Beneficiaries

Description of the mission

Première Urgence Internationale is developing an integrated approach in Lebanon with Syrian and Palestinian refugees and the host population. The integrated approach is an innovative operational approach developed by Première Urgence Internationale. It aims to identify and understand all the needs of people affected by a crisis. It allows us to take into account all the dimensions of a problem, in order to propose a combination of efficient and effective solutions that will have a strong and lasting impact on the population.

The mission also assists Palestinian refugees from Syria. This intervention aims to reduce tensions between communities and to provide assistance to vulnerable local populations affected by the massive influx of refugees.

Premiere Urgence Internationale in action

Première Urgence Internationale is currently implementing a wide range of activities in an integrated approach, related to health, protection, shelter and livelihoods. Première Urgence Internationale’s health action aims to contribute to reducing economic barriers and restoring access to primary health care to all vulnerable inhabitants in the governorates of Akkar, North, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, South and Nabatieh. This access to care is secured through the implementation of a single flat fee model. Our actions pay specific attention to social cohesion between the host and displaced populations in the country, as well as to people with disabilities.

In addition, Première Urgence Internationale addresses protection issues by providing refugee populations and other vulnerable people in Lebanon with meaningful access to health services and by improving the well-being of people receiving mental health and psychosocial support services, or by making referrals to specialized partners.

In order to address the vulnerabilities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are adapting our activities. Activities related to shelter rehabilitation are also carried out and emergency monetary assistance is deployed to help the most vulnerable households pay their rent and thus avoid evictions.

The Lebanon mission in pictures

Pictures of Lebanon : © Alexis Fogel (on this page) et © Edouard Elias (“The mission in pictures”)

Our partners

Fondation de France
UNHCR
Centre de Crise et de Soutien
OCHA
Agence Française du Développement
BPRM
Fondation Abbé Pierre
Madad

How your donations are used?

Stats Each year, Première Urgence Internationale allocates most of its resources to the programs and activities and only 0.2% to fundraising. Your donations are crucial.

Take control of your destiny

Your donations ensure our freedom of action. They allow us to provide support to those affected by crises that have been forgotten by the media and institutional sponsors. It means that the decisions of how to use all of the donations collected are taken by the organisation. It gives us the freedom to act and to increase our responsiveness.
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