Emergency Response in Lebanon

Health

• In close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), UNICEF has supported the activation of mobile Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCCs) Satellite Units (PSUs) and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) to deliver health services to IDPs and people on the move, such as medical consultations, immediate medical assistance, and immunization. After the ceasefire, UNICEF has been working to re-position the mobile health teams to areas where IDPs are returning.
• Since 23 September 2024, 223,052 people (50 per cent female) have been supported by mobile health teams, including 208,890 people reached by 59 PSUs and 14,162 people served by five MMUs. Additionally, 89 static PHCCs supported by UNICEF (‘AaSalameh’ Programme) provided health services to 116,208 people.
• UNICEF has integrated immunization across its emergency response, with 66,670 children vaccinated in the reporting period, including 37,600 vaccinated for Polio and Measles. UNICEF has also supported 407 displaced pregnant women by covering their patient share of delivery costs in 20 public hospitals and provided financial support for acute and intensive neonatal and paediatric care for 519 displaced sick newborn babies and children.
• In the ceasefire context, UNICEF is working to provide logistical support and supplies to re-open PHCCs that were closed during the conflict. To date, UNICEF has provided 167 tons of emergency medical supplies to MoPH that can support public health systems to cover up to 700,000 people for three months.

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

• To support national recovery and reconstruction efforts, UNICEF is conducting damage assessments and rapid repairs of damaged WASH facilities. More than 95 interventions to repair and maintain Water Establishments facilities serving 1.5 million people across Lebanon have been conducted since mid-September 2024 under UNICEF’s development programmes. Additionally, UNICEF’s WASH emergency response has focused on communities hosting IDPs and areas directly affected by shelling. Since 23 September 2024, UNICEF has supported the continuity of water supply for more than 557,271 people through the repairs of water facilities and the provision of 509,100 litres of fuel, 95 pumps, 18 tons of chlorine, two generators, and 24 km of pipes to Water Establishments in Lebanon.
• In collective shelters, UNICEF distributed 40.3 million litres of trucked water for domestic use for 72,806 displaced people, in addition to 930,000 litres of bottled water for drinking. To prevent water-borne disease outbreaks and support good hygiene practices, UNICEF has supported the desludging of 2.5 million litres of waste from shelters and provided critical hygiene supplies to 87,310 people, including by distributing 19,394 hygiene kits. Access to sanitation and hygiene facilities in 187 displacement sites was improved through the installation of 713 showers and 413 toilets by UNICEF. During the ceasefire period, UNICEF has planned to decommission WASH facilities installed in inactive collective shelters and re-position them in areas where IDPs are returning.

Nutrition & Child Development

• UNICEF has integrated essential nutrition and early childhood development (ECD) interventions into multiple service delivery platforms, including mobile health teams and Nutrition, Education, and Child Protection partners, to support children on the move and displaced families in communities and collective shelters. Through these combined efforts, UNICEF has distributed high-energy biscuits and micronutrient supplements to 11,017 young children and 2,363 adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) to prevent malnutrition since 23 September 2024. More than 30,968 children and PLWs were screened for acute malnutrition, with 2,718 identified cases and 737 admitted in treatment programmes. Additionally, 59,192 caregivers received counselling on breastfeeding, infant and young child feeding (IYCF), ECD, and responsive care. UNICEF continues to support the IYCF national hotline, which received 1,937 calls in the reporting period, out of which 392 cases were referred for additional specialized support.
• In collaboration with child protection actors, nutrition services have been reaching crossing points on the Lebanon-Syria border, where UNICEF has provided energy and protein rations to children and mothers on the move.
• UNICEF leads the Nutrition Sector in Lebanon and has strengthened Sector-level capacities by training over 793 frontline workers on Nutrition/ECD in emergencies and procuring tons of nutrition supplies.

Youth Engagement

• Youth engagement is a key principle for UNICEF across all its programmes. Since 23 September 2024, UNICEF has mobilised and engaged 5,500 adolescents and young people in response activities nationwide, including delivering relief items to displaced families. Through UNICEF partners, young people were trained to cook and distribute nearly 60,000 meals to displaced families and frontline workers. Under UNICEF’s Cash for Work programme, 107 young people are producing 4,000 sleeping bags and 7,750 winter kits for IDPs and vulnerable families. These services delivered through youth engagement and volunteering have reached 100,999 IDPs in the reporting period.
• UNICEF continues to keep displaced youth engaged in learning, skilling, and positive behaviours. As of 11 December 2024, over 4,000 displaced youth are being equipped with industry-certified digital training via the Nammiskills platform, enhancing their employability prospects in the gig economy. UNICEF has also conducted life skills and mental health awareness sessions for more than 6,000 adolescents and youth in shelters, communities, and Palestinian camps.
• The new academic year for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) public schools started on 4 November 2024 for all nationalities. UNICEF has solarised two TVET schools that were being used as collective shelters in the reporting period. UNICEF completed an ICT assessment in 20 TVET digital hubs covering 120 classrooms, which are being equipped with internet facilities and 250 tablets for online or blended learning.

Education

• The 2024-2025 school year in public schools restarted on 4 November 2024 for morning shifts serving mainly Lebanese children, with 276,940 students registered as of 11 December 2024. More than 805 public schools that were not damaged during the conflict and are located in demilitarised areas have re-open for in person learning. The registration in afternoon shifts for non-Lebanese students was launched on 25 November 2024 with around 60,000 children registered as of 11 December 2024. Afternoon shift classes are planned to start on 16 December 2024.
• UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education & Higher Education (MEHE) to resume learning for all children and implement the Ministry’s Learning Continuity Response Plan, including through decommissioning schools previously used as shelters and preparing their reopening for in-person classes. The Madristi (‘My School’ in Arabic) digital platform, powered by the Learning Passport technology, has been deployed to allow children to continue their studies through blended and remote learning. UNICEF provided MEHE with over 450,000 user accounts for students and teachers to access the platform. The national Call & Learn Tutoring hotline is being expanded with UNICEF support to provide free, individualized learning support over the phone. More than 16,582 children (56 per cent girls) were supported through the hotline since early October 2024.
• Since hostilities escalated in September 2024, UNICEF has been at the forefront of the response, supporting displaced children in collective shelters by providing a tailored package of services to meet their needs. At the peak of internal displacement, UNICEF distributed learning and recreational materials to 117,660 displaced children, including educational kits, LEGO sets, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits, fostering both learning and play. Following the ceasefire and the gradual closure of shelters, UNICEF’s Multiple Flexible Pathways programmes (Makani and Dirasa) have been supporting children and families, particularly those on the move. A total of 51 Makani centres have reopened with expanded capacity to provide essential services, including retention support to help in-school children recover from learning interruptions and psychosocial distress while ensuring they remain enrolled. Makani centres also serve as safe spaces where children can access psychosocial support, life skills training, and learning opportunities.
• Building on UNICEF’s inclusive response approach, as of 11 December 2024, the disability assessments carried out in 340 shelters had identified 1,572 children with disabilities (CWDs) (59 per cent girls). Based on the assessed needs, 291 CWDs have been supported with assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, mattresses, spectacles, hearing aids), 91 CWDs have started therapy sessions through UNICEF partners, and 50 CWDs have been referred to other organizations. Besides children, UNICEF’s assessment has also identified 1,177 adults and youth with disabilities in shelters (59 per cent female), 405 of whom have already been referred to receive services.

Social Protection

• In partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), UNICEF is working to strengthen a national disability-inclusive emergency response. In October 2024, UNICEF implemented an advance payment for 27,000 persons with disabilities registered for National Disability Allowance (NDA) as part of its regular programming in partnership with MoSA and the International Labour Organization (ILO). In addition, 43,389 people in families with a registered NDA beneficiary have been provided with US$ 100 cash top-ups by 11 December 2024.
• On 15 November 2024, the MoSA announced the utilization of LBP 4.5 billion (approximately US$ 5 million) from the national budget to support persons with disabilities. UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry on the operationalization of the payments, which will be delivered in batches. The first batch will be implemented on 12 December 2024 to cover 15,000 families with children and youth to benefit approximately 65,000 individuals.
• On 3 December 2024, an agreement was signed between UNICEF, MoSA, and WFP to register up to 1.2 million IDPs in a national registry, laying the foundation for targeted support in the early recovery and reconstruction stages.

Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

• UNICEF has intensified its efforts to raise awareness on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) due to the large number of people returning home to areas targeted during the conflict in Lebanon. As of 11 December 2024, more than 1,932 children, caregivers and frontliners have been sensitized on the risks associated with unexploded ordinance and white phosphorus, and 436,125 EORE informational materials had been distributed to IDPs and people on the move, including through a partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces Mine Action Center.
• UNICEF is working along border-crossing points and throughout Lebanon to prevent the separation of children from their families as they move across the country. UNICEF is distributing identification bracelets to children, disseminating reliable information, and assisting in family reunification. As of 11 December 2024, 94 unaccompanied and separated children had been identified nationwide, 88 of whom have already been reunited with their families. At border crossing points in the Bekaa Governorate, UNICEF has been sensitizing families on child protection risks and referring children to specialized services as needed.
• The conflict in Lebanon has heightened psychological distress among children and families, leaving many with lasting trauma and emotional scars. In response, UNICEF has provided community-based psychosocial support to 24,567 children and caregivers, including after the ceasefire, to assist children on their healing journey.
• The protection of women and girls’ rights remains at the core of UNICEF’s response. A tailored package of services to support them in adopting protective measures against GBV risks is being implemented, including awareness-raising interventions and psychological first aid – 4,973 people have been reached by 11 December 2024. In parallel, 22,814 dignity/Laha kits that include menstrual hygiene products were distributed to displaced women and girls in collective shelters and UNRWA sites.
• UNICEF’s child protection and GBV emergency programmes are currently 89 per cent unfunded. Existing resources have allowed UNICEF to provide specialised case management to 114 children and GBV emergency case management to 310 women and girls in GBV safe spaces. Additional funding is required to scale up these specialised protection services for children and women, including throughout their journey to return home.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Accountability to the Affected Populations (AAP), Gender and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

• UNICEF has mechanisms in place to disseminate critical information and allow communities to share feedback on services provided by UNICEF and partners. In the reporting period, UNICEF’s Call Center received and responded to 36,600 calls. After the ceasefire, the calls have primarily been from IDPs returning home requesting assistance for repairs of damage properties and infrastructure. Additionally, some inquiries concerned Syrian refugees’ uncertainty about whether it is safer to return to Syria or remain in Lebanon.
• UNICEF conducted a Rapid Gender Analysis to shed light on the situation of displaced Lebanese and non-Lebanese girls and young women aged between 11 to 24 years old in several Lebanese Governorates. The main concerns reported by displaced girls and young women were lack of privacy, unsafe access to sanitation, deterioration of mental health, restrictions on girls’ movements, and lack of awareness of GBV and PSEA reporting mechanisms. The findings showcased a worse situation for non-Lebanese displaced girls and young women compared to their Lebanese counterparts. The full report was launched on 11 December and is accessible here.
• Within the ceasefire period, UNICEF organised emergency sessions with 70 returnees and displaced girls to equip them with life-saving information and skills to navigate the day-to-day challenges and risks that affect girls during emergencies.
• Since 23 September 2024, more than 392,733 individuals have been reached through UNICEF Lebanon’s social media channels with messages related to water-borne diseases awareness, family reunification and tracing, hygiene, nutrition, services available for children with disabilities, GBV, and mental health during the conflict for parents and children and EORE for returning IDPs. Social Behavioural Change interventions have been active in and outside shelters – 6,510 children and caregivers have been engaged in activities such as edutainment for inclusion, (storytelling, theatre, and games), awareness raising, and RCCE in the reporting period.
• The RCCE National Interagency Working Group is led by UNICEF to support stakeholders in responding to affected communities both in and out of shelters in terms of community engagement, dissemination of key messages, social listening, and information, education, and communication materials. UNICEF has established a RCCE public repository of resources approved by the Lebanese Government.