Lebanon Humanitarian Fund Annual Report 2024

Humanitarian Context and Allocations

For much of 2024, the escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October 2023 just one day after the start of the Gaza conflict, persisted, with the greatest humanitarian impacts felt in southern Lebanon – including the displacement of approximately 110,000 people. Starting in late September 2024, however, the conflict’s intensity spiked dramatically, leading to two months of catastrophic, countrywide impacts on civilians. Over 1 million people were displaced within Lebanon between September and November 2024, and more than 560,000 fled the country into Syria and other countries of the region. The 27 November cessation of hostilities agreement once again marked a moment of rapid transition, as some 90 per cent of those displaced began to return to their areas of origin nearly overnight. Yet, with a level of damage to homes, basic services and other public infrastructure outstripping that of the 2006 conflict, conflict-affected people in many areas of return, as well as those who remained displaced – nearly 161,000 people at the end of December, continued to be in urgent need of critical assistance. In 2025, the situation continues to evolve, with thousands of households navigating complex challenges as they seek stability in the aftermath of the conflict and amidst ongoing violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement. At the end of the first quarter, some 92,000 people remained displaced outside their cadaster of origin. Moreover, the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon continues to present significant humanitarian challenges. In addition to a long-standing refugee population, more than 110,000 individuals have arrived from Syria since December 2024. Along with the catastrophic impact of the conflict and the refugee’s influx, Lebanon continues to face a multi-layered crisis characterized by deep-rooted vulnerabilities and acute humanitarian needs. The crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including financial and socio-economic downturn and political deadlock.