UNICEF provides cash support to over 70,000 vulnerable children to address the economic crisis

Beirut, 15 December 2020 –Given the deepening economic crisis that is now affecting the majority of the population in Lebanon, UNICEF is providing further cash assistance to over 70,000 children across Lebanon to help households protect child wellbeing.

This Cash Assistance is a one-off grant that is being transferred once during the month of December 2020 to households across the entire country. Supported households include Lebanese families and their children who are identified as vulnerable under the Government’s National Poverty Targeting Programme and hold an electronic card (the Hayat card) as well as non-Lebanese households and their children who have previously been identified as vulnerable under UNICEF programmes and hold an active Red e-Card.

“Lebanon has been faced with multiple compounded crises that have resulted in increased vulnerability of residents of the country across the board” said Yukie Mokuo, UNICEF Representative to Lebanon. “As prices rise and people lose their jobs, everyone is affected, particularly vulnerable households such as those with children.  UNICEF’s aim is to provide immediate support, as far as our resources would allow, to some of the most vulnerable households in the country”.

Families  received an SMS from UNICEF informing them that their card was loaded with the amount they are eligible for. Eligible Lebanese and non-Lebanese households with children under 18 years old receive a one-off amount of 460,000 LBP per child up to a maximum of 3 children per family. Lebanese families with no children also receive support of 460,000 LBP.

This cash support to households comes on top of UNICEF’s existing programmes that support the most vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian children and young people across the country with basic services, including education, social assistance, child protection, youth development, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation. It is also provided in addition to the cash grant that was provided to almost 80,000 people in response to the blast.