Attachments
Context & Rationale
Between 7 October 2023 and 20 September 2024, Lebanon experienced a prolonged conflict that resulted in significant human casualties and extensive material damage. By the end of December, the country had recorded approximately 3,768 fatalities, 15,699 injuries, and more than 899,725 internally displaced people (IDPs).1 The economic impact has been equally severe, with physical damages and economic losses estimated at US$8.5 billion, according to a World Bank report. Following the ceasefire, a large portion of IDPs - about 819,693 as of December 25, 2024 - began returning to their areas of origin, with Baalbek-El Hermel accounting for 17% of the total returnees. While the return of displaced populations signals a positive step toward recovery, many returning families continue to face considerable barriers in accessing basic services such as WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), healthcare, shelter, and education. Service provision remains hampered by widespread infrastructural damage and disruptions in supply chains and human resources.
Furthermore, 160,000 individuals remain outside their cadasters of origin, underscoring the ongoing need for humanitarian support and assistance. In this volatile context, effective support for the most vulnerable hinges on timely and accurate data to ensure assistance is prioritized effectively. To address this need, REACH initiative in collaboration with Solidarités International continues to implement the Humanitarian Situation Monitoring (HSM). Through the HSM, population needs and access to essential services are closely tracked over time, enabling evidence-based decision-making to guide datadriven actions on prioritizing and targeting assistance.
Key Findings Assessment Coverage
- Substantial infrastructure damage was concentrated in 6 cadasters in Baalbeck, West Bekaa and Zahle districts. As in Round One, high damage scores were driven by residential and market infrastructure destruction. The most commonly reported shelter damages included broken windows and doors, as well as damage to walls and roofs.
- Limited access to basic services which include cash, healthcare, markets, and food, has remained a critical challenge since Round One. The primary barrier preventing households from meeting their basic needs was reported to be financial constraints, driven by lack of income, limited cash availability, and rising prices of goods and services.
- The priority needs identified were heating sources, cash, food and health support. As communities recover after the ceasefire, demand for livelihood opportunities is expected to grow, alongside ongoing needs for infrastructure rehabilitation and winter heating.
- The Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) index was high in the majority of assessed cadasters (n=40/53), indicating substantial gaps in aid delivery. Notably, 23 cadasters reported receiving neither governmental nor humanitarian aid, underscoring the urgent need to address these gaps and improve assistance reach.