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Country analysis

Lebanon


Socioeconomic issues and worsening insecurity resulting from the escalation of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel drive the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. The country also hosts high numbers of Syrian refugees who require assistance. In 2025, an estimated 4.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance across the country.

Hezbollah and Israel agreed on a ceasefire on 27 November 2024 following the escalation of clashes on 8 October 2023. This allowed the return of over 918,000 people to southern Lebanon, while 115,000 remained displaced until February 2025. Conflict-affected people continue to need shelter, food, education, healthcare, cash assistance, and the reconstruction of damaged or destroyed houses, road infrastructure, and public buildings.

Since at least 2019, mounting public debt, high fiscal deficit, and political instability have been driving the socioeconomic crisis in the country, resulting in the devaluation of the Lebanese pound, increased unemployment and multidimensional poverty, business closures, inflation, limited access to foreign exchange and imports, and decreased foreign remittances.

The Lebanese Government estimates around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, 180,000 Palestine refugees in Lebanon, and 23,000 Palestine refugees from Syria. With a Lebanese population of 5.3 million, these figures make Lebanon the country with the biggest refugee-to-resident population ratio worldwide. (ISCG LRP 20/01/2025, IOM 13/02/2025, UNDP/UNHCR 19/12/2024, OCHA 06/02/2025, REACH 04/10/2024)

Latest updates on country situation

26 March 2025

By 20 March 2025, more than 21,600 Syrians had arrived in Lebanon following the hostilities that occurred between 7–10 March in Hama, Homs, Lattakia, and Tartous governorates. Most of the new arrivals are hosted in Akkar governorate, northern Lebanon, with relatives and friends or in collective shelters. NFIs, ready-to-eat meals, and shelter are among the urgent needs reported. (UNHCR 23/03/2025, Ahram 25/03/2025)

current crises
in Lebanon


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

LBN006 - Complex crisis

Last updated 27/03/2025


Drivers

Socio-political
Displacement
Conflict
Food Security

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

LBN002 - Syrian refugees

Last updated 27/03/2025


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.2 High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Lebanon

Lebanon: After the ceasefire: current situation, humanitarian needs, and outlook

05 March 2025

Lebanon: After the ceasefire: current situation, humanitarian needs, and outlook

DOCUMENT / PDF / 734 KB

This report provides an overview of the humanitarian situation in Lebanon following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The report examines the impact of the conflict on key civilian infrastructure and sheds light on the continuing needs of the affected population.

Conflict and violence

Attached resources

Lebanon: escalation of hostilities - key humanitarian developments

01 October 2024

Lebanon: escalation of hostilities - key humanitarian developments

DOCUMENT / PDF / 691 KB

Hostilities and clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have been escalating since 8 October 2023, mainly affecting areas in southern Lebanon. On 23 September 2024, the Israeli army increased their military attacks, with over 330 raids. 

Conflict and violence
Lebanon: humanitarian impact of escalating Hezbollah-Israel hostilities

09 July 2024

Lebanon: humanitarian impact of escalating Hezbollah-Israel hostilities

DOCUMENT / PDF / 479 KB

This report provides an overview of the impact of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict on southern Lebanon. It highlights the affected population’s increasing need – including that of newly displaced individuals – and looks at access constraints resulting from the increase in hostilities.

Conflict and violence
Lebanon: the effect of the socioeconomic crisis on healthcare

19 October 2023

Lebanon: the effect of the socioeconomic crisis on healthcare

DOCUMENT / PDF / 364 KB

The report mainly focuses on the impact of the socioeconomic crisis on the availability of medication, people’s access to healthcare services, and the status of the health infrastructure in Lebanon. It also compares the country’s healthcare performance before 2019 with the present. 

Health
Ripple effects of the conflict in Ukraine: truths and myths

22 December 2022

Ripple effects of the conflict in Ukraine: truths and myths

DOCUMENT / PDF / 4 MB

This report provides a commentary on relevant datasets as it examines trends related to the economic effects of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on selected countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. 

Conflict and violenceEconomy
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