For women on the margins, cash assistance is vital

Lebanon | 2024 | CBPF

Beirut, Lebanon. Nine months pregnant and facing eviction, Noura, originally from Ethiopia, feared for her unborn child’s safety. Neither she nor her husband were earning enough to make rent, and the baby was coming soon.

Marie, from Bangladesh, arrived in Lebanon in 2011, hoping for a better life. Instead, she endured abuse, exploitation, and instability. She later met her husband and had a child, but their struggles worsened when she lost her job and they risked losing their home.

Amid political and economic crises, Lebanon has long been home to a diverse population of migrant workers, many of whom face severe hardship caused by economic instability, lack of legal protection, and widespread discrimination.

Many of these workers, from Africa and South-East Asia, struggle to access essential services, secure housing, and find stable employment.

The Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), managed by OCHA, played a transformative role in supporting the Amel Association, one of the leading organizations offering migrant workers protection, empowerment, and emergency assistance.

Marie and her family were able to secure safe housing thanks to Amel’s ‘cash-for-rent’ assistance. Marie’s message to Amel was simple yet powerful: "Thank you. Your cash assistance helped me stay safe, with my family."

For Noura, the mother-to-be, the cash assistance provided by Amel through LHF helped her to secure a place to stay during this critical period. Amel also referred her to a suitable hospital where she could get the medical care she and the baby needed.

Working with Amel, the LHF has shown how vulnerable people in need – often excluded from humanitarian aid - can be reached through strategic local partnerships.

Posted May 2025.

Pooled Fund impact stories

More information on the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund

Based on original stories from LHF and Amel.