UNRWA Situation Report #6 on the Lebanon Emergency Response. All information from 7 October - 10 October 2024, valid as of 10 October 2024 at 13:00 [EN/AR]

Key Points

• At the beginning of October, UNRWA temporarily suspended most of its operations in the Tyre area, primarily because of the displacement of UNRWA staff due to the security situation. Some limited water and sanitation services continue functioning in the area. A large percentage of the population of the three Palestine Refugee camps in the Tyre Area and one camp in Beirut have left in search of safety and protection elsewhere.
• On 3 October, UNRWA launched a Flash Appeal for US$ 27.3 million to address the urgent humanitarian needs resulting from the ongoing escalation in Lebanon, in addition to the displacement of some populations from Lebanon into Syria, over the next 90 days.
• Since the activation of its Emergency Response in Lebanon on 24 September, UNRWA has opened 12 emergency shelters. One of the shelters was closed on 7 October, bringing the total number of active emergency shelters down to 11. As of 10 October, three UNRWA emergency shelters have reached their maximum capacity.
• The 11 shelters currently operated by UNRWA are located in the following areas: one in Beirut (Yabud School), four in the Saida Area (Siblin Training Centre, Nablus School, Rafidya School, Beir Zeit/Beit Jala School), five in the north (Toubas School, Amqa School, Mount Tabour School, Battir School, and Majeddo and Mazar school - all in Nahr el-Bared Camp), and one in Beqaa (Jarmaq School, in Zahle District).
• As of 10 October 2024, a total of 4,083[1] Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are registered in UNRWA shelters. This number has slightly decreased due to the closure of one emergency shelter, as reported in the previous situation report, with ongoing registration of these IDPs in other shelters.

[1] Cut off time: 10 October 1:00 PM

Overall Situation

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports a total of 689,715 IDPs (52 per cent female and 48 per cent male) between 8 October 2023 and 9 October 2024. New displacements continue to be reported, and counting is ongoing.[1] Displacement now surpasses the 2006 war, according to OCHA[2].
• Education institutions in Lebanon remain closed for learning. The start of the school year has been postponed to 4 November, following an announcement from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). The majority of public schools are currently being used as government-managed collective shelters, with approximately 75% of the 978 government shelters repurposed from public schools.[3]
• According to WHO[4], at least 96 primary health care centers (PHCCs) and dispensaries, along with three hospitals, have been forced to close due to the conflict, significantly limiting access to critical medical care in surrounding areas. Furthermore, damage has been reported in at least ten hospitals nationwide, with three hospitals fully evacuated and two partially evacuated.
• The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) announced a Systemwide Scale-Up on 4 October, for six months. The primary objective of this scale-up is to rapidly mobilize resources and capacities to enhance the emergency response in Lebanon.
• As of 10 October, 1,162 households, representing a total of 4,083 people, are registered in UNRWA emergency shelters across the country. Of these, approximately 41.2 per cent are Palestine Refugees from Lebanon, 20.5 per cent are Palestine Refugees from Syria, 17.8 per cent are Lebanese, and 18.6 per cent are Syrian. Additionally, about 0.9 per cent are of other nationalities, with less than 1 per cent classified as non-ID or falling into the "others" category.

[1] IOM Displacement Matrix round 52: Data collected up till 4 pm on 09 October 2024 (not yet online)

[2] OCHA Flash Appeal: Lebanon, October - December 2024 (October 2024): Flash Appeal: Lebanon, October - December 2024 (October 2024) | OCHA (unocha.org)

[3] OCHA Flash Update #33 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 7 October 2024: Lebanon: Flash Update #33 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 7 October 2024 - Lebanon | ReliefWeb

[4] WHO Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) (09 October 2024): Escalation of Hostilities in Lebanon, Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) (09 October 2024) - Lebanon | ReliefWeb

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians

• On 2 October, UNRWA suspended most of its operations in the Tyre area, affecting all three Palestine Refugee camps in the area: Rashidieh, El Buss, and Burj Shemali. Only minimal water and waste management services continue to be provided for the remaining inhabitants in the camps. UNRWA has submitted requests via OCHA to the humanitarian notification system, in order to reopen the UNRWA Primary Health Care clinics in the camps on a limited schedule.
• In the three Palestine Refugee camps in the Tyre area, basic services such as electricity, water, and food supplies are severely restricted, with food available only in limited quantities from one to two vegetable shops in each camp. Estimates indicate that 25% of the population is in Rashadieh, 20% in Burj Shemali, and 10% in El Buss, with gatherings maintaining around 10%. Bakeries have ceased operations and electricity remains scarce.
• No casualties among UNRWA staff have been reported over the past three days. UNRWA security team closely monitors the situation and staff movements to ensure the safety of frontline workers.
• No additional damage to UNRWA facilities was reported during the reporting period. Since the onset of the emergency, three facilities — Qastal School in Baalbek (Beqaa) and Mansoura School in Tyre (south), and the Burj Al-Barajneh Health Centre — have sustained minor damage.

UNRWA response

• UNRWA is currently operating 11 emergency shelters across the country, three of which have already reached maximum capacity, namely: Amqa School in Nahr el-Bared Camp, Yabud School in Beirut, and Beit Jala-Beir Zeit School in Saida.
• Where possible and relevant, UNRWA coordinates with local partners to provide additional services to displaced persons. In its delivery of services, UNRWA has been coordinating closely with UN Agencies and international organisations, including the IOM, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Save the Children International (SCI), and Action Against Hunger (ACF). At each emergency shelter, a co-support partner has been identified. These co-support partners include Nabaa, Tadamon, Beit Atfal El-Somoud, Najdeh, Mobader, and the Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts (ARCPA).
• Notably, through the support of partners UNRWA is facilitating the provision of hot meals to IDPs in shelters, with Taawon and the Women Programme Association providing 1,500 meals in Narh el-Bared emergency shelters, Norwegian People’s Aid and the Community Organization for Development and Empowerment (INITIATE) delivering 1,200 daily meals in Siblin emergency shelter, and Save the Children and Nabaa contributing an additional 240 meals. Various community kitchens, including Siyak and Mousawat in the North area and Mosaned in Saida area, along with other local initiatives, are also addressing remaining food needs, while UNRWA is working to finalize community kitchens in the North, Siblin, and Beqaa for sustainable hot meal provision.

Open UNRWA Emergency Shelter Locations as at 3/10/2024

UNRWA Shelters

• On 7 October 2024, UNRWA closed the Deir El Kassi Emergency Shelter near Mieh Mieh Palestine Refugee Camp in Saida. The Agency has been communicating publicly that any infringement on its efforts to maintain humanitarian principles in these shelters cannot be tolerated. In light of this, individuals previously accommodated there have been redirected to alternative emergency shelters.

Programmatic & Operational Response

Health

• The further deterioration of the security situation across the country has impacted UNRWA's health care capacities. As of 10 October, out of 27 UNRWA Health Centres, 12 are operational and 15 are closed. All health centres in the Tyre area are closed, and two remain open in the Beirut area. In contrast, the situation in the north is more stable, with all centres functioning in both the northern area and the Bekaa Valley.
• With UNRWA health activities suspended in the Tyre area due to security concerns, accessing the remaining population in Palestine Refugee camps, including Rashidiyeh, Burj Shemali and Al Buss, presents significant challenges. Efforts are being made to temporarily open clinics for one or two days; however, the ability to secure health staff remains a concern, as many have relocated to northern areas.
• The disruption of the national supply chain, marked by a significant reduction in flights to Lebanon and increased dangers for truck transport, has resulted in a situation where, although basic medications are still available, the lack of new shipments may lead to potential shortages, especially for non-communicable diseases and mental health medications. While UNRWA currently has sufficient stock, local procurement may be necessary if the situation continues.
• In response to the closure of numerous UNRWA health clinics due to security concerns, the newly opened Health Point in central Beirut (Musaytbeh) is now fully operational, with five doctors providing care to patients daily. However, the current physical space is inadequate, and plans are being developed to expand the facility in order to meet the growing demand for services.

Protection

• The UNRWA Protection team has completed the Protection Monitoring activity at all operational UNRWA shelters in the north, Saida, Beirut, and Beqaa areas. The team is now addressing gaps related to staff training needs in child safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), while also enhancing activities for children and improving service provision and facilities for individuals with specific needs.
• The UNRWA Protection Specialists ,in coordination with Education, Health, and Relief and Social Services, oversee psychosocial support (PSS) interventions in emergency shelters. Psychosocial support services are implemented in close coordination with partners in all emergency shelters, and activities (except case management) are open to all nationalities and tailored to age and gender.

Sanitation Services/WASH

• Solid waste management presents a significant challenge across all areas. Limited solid waste collection is proceeding in the Tyre area. In Saida, Beirut, and the north, the high volume of waste generated by the camps and UNRWA emergency shelters exceeds UNRWA's capacity. In Ein El Hilweh Camp, military security restrictions at the entrance limit what can enter, reducing the number of solid waste disposal trips and exacerbating waste accumulation within the camp. However, the situation is improving slightly in Saida, as the municipality has resumed garbage collection. In response, UNRWA has increased waste disposal trips and dedicated staff, but additional resources and support are still required.
• UNRWA team is also permanently conducting maintenance and repairs across all 11 emergency shelters, prioritizing WASH utilities, shower units, electrical systems, and other essential services.

Logistics

• A convoy of seven UNRWA trucks, loaded with food items, mattresses, hygiene kits, and other supplies, is en route from Jordan and is expected to reach the Lebanon border near Aarida, in northern Lebanon, by 11 October 2024. The supplies will be distributed to UNRWA shelters across the country.