Attachments
Highlights
- Population movements in Syria and neighbouring countries have surged due to changes in the Syrian government and attacks across Syria. Preliminary reports indicate tens of thousands of Syrians entering Lebanon. Official arrivals-departures figures have yet to be confirmed.
- UNICEFcontinuestorespondtotheneedsofchildrenthroughouttheir displacement journey, including on their return home. Since the ceasefire took effect in Lebanon, UNICEF has strengthened its support for public systems to ensure the continuity of critical services, including repairs and maintenance of water facilities supplying water to 557,271 people. Before the ceasefire, UNICEF supported 695 collective shelters hosting 121,602 people with relief items and services.
- UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education to bring children back to learning. More than 805 public schools have already reopened for in-person classes.
- UNICEFissuedaRapidGenderAnalysisonthesituationofadolescent girls and young women during the conflict in Lebanon.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Multiple overlapping population movements in Syria and neighbouring countries, including Lebanon, have occurred following changes to the Syrian government on 7 December 2024 and a series of attacks across Syria. Significant internal displacement within Syria, outward movement, and the return of some Syrian refugees have been reported. According to UNHCR, refugees are still considering how safe and dignified their return to Syria would be before making an informed and voluntary decision to return home.ii Preliminary reports of local authorities indicate tens of thousands of Syrians entering Lebanon through both official and unofficial routes with hundreds queuing at border crossing points. Official numbers of Syrians arriving in and departing from Lebanon have yet to be confirmed.
Displacement waves across Lebanese governorates have occurred frequently since hostilities between Lebanon and Israel escalated on 23 September 2024. On 27 November 2024, a ceasefire agreement brought a truce to the conflict, which marked the deadliest period Lebanon has experienced in decades, with an average of more than three children killed every day.iii OHCHR has alerted that at least 20 civilians, including three children, have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect. Since October 2023, more than 4,040 people were reported killed in Lebanon, including 316 children and 790 women, while 16,590 were injured, including 1,450 children and 2,827 women.iv
Following the ceasefire in Lebanon, displaced persons have been returning to their homes in areas affected by hostilities and potentially contaminated with unexploded ordnance of war – more than 14,000 strikes were reportedly conducted in Lebanon during the conflict.v The overall number of IDPs has decreased to 178,817 people and over 902,000 people have begun returning to their communities as recorded by IOM.vi National authorities have been gradually closing collective shelters, dropping from 1,100 to around 70 shelters on 11 December 2024. vii The World Bank reported that around 100,000 housing units were partially or fully damaged.viii Families with damaged properties and those from southern villages yet to be demilitarised are likely to remain displaced for a longer period.
Prior to the ceasefire, more than 620,000 people left Lebanon for Syria, including 234,242 Lebanese and 390,656 Syrians, according to the Lebanese General Security Directorate.ix After the ceasefire, reverse movement flows towards Lebanon have occurred – preliminary figures show that 34,000 Lebanese have already returned to Lebanon.
The conflict caused a significant impact on civilian infrastructure and public services in Lebanon, including 40 hospitals left with disrupted operationsx, 98 Primary Health Centres and dispensaries closedxi, and 37 water facilities damaged. After a series of delays due to the conflict, more than 805 public schools have now reopened for in-person learning. Morning shift classes for Lebanese children resumed on 4 November 2024, and afternoon shift classes for non- Lebanese students are scheduled to begin on 16 December 2024 – see more details on Education on page four.