Lebanon

Remotely monitored country
Lebanon
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Latest Analysis
Key Message Update December 2024 A month into ceasefire, widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes persist Download the report
  • Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to persist through at least May in the South, El Nabatieh, Baalbak-El Hermel, Akkar, and North Lebanon governorates due to extensive infrastructure damage, the investment needed to restore key economic sectors, and the cumulative effects of the year-long conflict. In Beirut, where Stressed (IPC Phase 2) area-level outcomes are assessed, concern remains high that a substantial number of households are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), particularly in the southern part of the city. In the most severely affected areas of southern Lebanon and Baalbak-El Hermel, the extent of population displacement, civilian casualties, and damage to livelihoods will continue to hinder access to food and income. In the north, which hosts large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Syrian and Palestinian refugees, both displaced and host households will likely continue to struggle with high food prices and reduced income. Overall, the easing of hostilities is expected to decrease the number of people in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) across Lebanon, especially in the north, as households return to their homes and market functionality recovers.
  • The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since it went into effect on November 27 despite multiple violations, including airstrikes in the South and El Nabatieh governorates. However, Israel’s withdrawal from the buffer zone has been slower than planned under the terms of the agreement. According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), as of December 27, only one town in southern Lebanon had been vacated by Israel and occupied by the Lebanese army.[1] It is increasingly likely that Israel will continue to occupy the buffer zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River after the 60-day deadline ends on January 26. There remains uncertainty regarding the longer-term durability of conflict resolution, and the degree of improvement in acute food insecurity outcomes ultimately depends on the timing of a more significant de-escalation in hostilities. A return to normal is unlikely to occur in the near-to-medium term.
  • As of December 31, 860,740 IDPs have reportedly returned to their areas of origin, with the largest number to the South, El Nabatieh, and Baalbek-El Hermel governorates. Refugees are facing difficulties returning to their areas of origin due to ongoing security concerns such as unexploded ordinances and ceasefire violations, movement restrictions south of the Litani River, widespread property damage, and disrupted public services. Approximately 123,750 IDPs remain in the 42 collective sites still open across the country. Many of the closed collective sites that previously sheltered IDPs, such as schools and religious buildings, have returned to their original purpose. However, following both the start of the ceasefire in late November and the collapse of the Assad government in Syria in early December, population movement across the Lebanese-Syrian border has increased. Approximately 90,000 people had crossed into Lebanon from Syria by December 19, including 20,000 Lebanese returnees. Additionally, approximately 10,000 Syrians returned to Syria through official border crossings, as of December 12. 

  • According to Lebanon’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC), a total of 62,066 people in shelters received Ready-To-Eat meals (RTEs), bread packs, and/or hot and cold meals in November. From December 1 to 17, only 2,479 people have been reached, however, with the vast majority located in Mount Lebanon and Beirut. A similar decline in assistance was reported outside of the shelters: In November, 77,165 unique people received food parcels, but as of December 17, only 13,540 unique recipients had been reached. A majority were residing in the South Lebanon, El Nabatieh, and Bekaa governorates. Due to constraints in humanitarian access to hard-to-reach areas along the southern border of Lebanon and difficulties locating those who have been displaced outside of collective shelters, many people who remain in their houses in southern Lebanon or are sheltering with family and friends elsewhere have not received food assistance.

    [1] At the time of publication in early January, Israeli troops had reportedly withdrawn from just two or three out of more than 60 locations in southern Lebanon.

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Agroclimatology
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Markets & trade
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Alerts / Special Reports
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Food security
Key Message Update Lebanon November 2024
Remote Monitoring Report Lebanon October 2024
Key Message Update Lebanon September 2024
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & trade
No reports available.
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
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