Attachments
OVERVIEW
The escalation of hostilities in 2024 deepened Lebanon’s crisis, driving mass displacement, destroying livelihoods, and worsening food insecurity. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah peaked on 23 September, marking the deadliest period since 2006 and exacerbating Lebanon’s economic struggles. Declining humanitarian aid and escalating conflict increased acute food insecurity from 19 percent in April 2024 to 29 percent by end of year. WFP played a critical role in responding to the crisis, prioritizing assistance for the most vulnerable people while navigating funding and security challenges. In 2024, WFP supported 2.3 million people, including 1.1 million Syrian refugees and 1.2 million marginalized Lebanese. WFP also facilitated cash transfers for 794,000 vulnerable Lebanese under the Government’s Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN). Through targeted livelihood and resilience-building initiatives, WFP connected businesses to its school meals programme and retail networks.
Following the 23 September conflict surge, WFP rapidly scaled up support, leveraging prepositioned food stocks, standby agreements with bakeries, and cash transfer networks to provide immediate support to 752,000 people, including those in shelters and hard-to-reach areas. As the lead agency for the Food Security and Agriculture and Logistics Clusters, WFP partnered with organizations to optimize food distribution, offering shared warehousing, free transport services, and setting up a Humanitarian Notification System to improve safety and access to high-risk areas.
Beyond emergency response, WFP strengthened Lebanon’s resilience by enhancing national social safety nets and food systems. In October 2024, WFP advanced the integration of the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP) into the ESSN, establishing a unified, government-led social protection framework. It also supported the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) in launching a grievance system and call centre, improving feedback mechanisms for cash assistance recipients while enhancing Lebanon’s Shock-Responsive Social Safety Net (SRSN). Additionally, WFP collaborated with key ministries to improve market transparency, conduct food security assessments, and strengthen national nutrition policies.
As Lebanon continues to face escalating challenges, WFP’s focus on emergency response, shock-responsive safety nets and food systems will remain essential for the country’s stability and recovery through 2025 and beyond.