The 2022 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) aims to provide critical support to more than three million people as vulnerability increases, and to support infrastructure, public services and the local economy .
The plan takes an integrated approach to address the needs of both Syrian and Palestinian refugees caused by the conflict, now in its 11th year, and the Lebanese communities hosting them.
Family can’t cope
Najat Rochdi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, reported that nine out of 10 Syrians in the water is mepovertywhile Poverty levels have also increased basically for Lebanese citizen, immigrant and Palestinian Refugees.
“These circumstances are fostering negative coping mechanisms, as families are forced to send their children to work instead of school, skip meals or take on debt. Grandma speak.
Ms Rochdi was speaking alongside Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati and Social Affairs Minister, Hector Hajjar, at the launch of the plan in the capital, Beirut.
Primary care
Lebanon, with a total population of approx 6.7 million wonremains the country with the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer, based on United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.
“Lebanon has been hosting displaced Syrians for more than 11 years now. As resources are increasingly stretched by the economic crisis, increase support for those displaced and for the Lebanese host communities, still primary care for the Government of Lebanon and its partners,” said Mr. Hajjar.
“We call on you to stand with Lebanon, its people and government, and the displaced to meet their urgent needs and overcome obstacles together to return to their homeland. safe”.
Meeting growing demand
LCRP brings together more than 126 humanitarian partners to support 3.2 million people in the country this year. The aim is to provide assistance to 1.5 million Lebanese, 1.5 million displaced Syrians and more than 209,000 Palestinian refugees.
It complements other internationally supported development and humanitarian initiatives in Lebanon, such as the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Plan launched in the wake of the deadly and devastating Beirut port explosion in August 2020.
© UNOCHA
A view of the port area devastated by a large explosion that occurred on August 4 in Beirut, Lebanon.
People across the country are falling deeper into poverty this year due to a depreciating currency, high inflation, rising prices and loss of income.
Gaps in the supply chain including fuel, wheat and electricity, continue to affect LCRP partners, who are also facing increased pressure from local governments and communities to provide support aid amid escalating demand.
The Lebanese government has committed to expanding the number of local families receiving regular cash-based benefits under the government-led National Poverty Targeting Program and funded by donors in the LCRP. sponsor. The goal is to grow from 36,000 families to 75,000 in the next two months.
The government has also adopted a national strategy to increase social protection for the most vulnerable groups in Lebanon.
In addition to the LCRP, national authorities have also committed to the Emergency Social Safety Net program, funded by a loan from the World Bank.
The program provided monthly cash assistance to approximately 60,000 of the poorest Lebanese families for a period of one year, and the goal was to reach 150,000 families overall.
Deliver results
Humanitarians report that $9 billion in assistance provided through the LCRP since 2015 has shown clear results in Lebanon, for its host population and displaced people.
For example, nearly 2.3 million subsidized health consultations were provided through primary care centers last year.
In addition, more than $375 million has been pumped into the economy through cash-based interventions to support vulnerable Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian families. About 2.1 million people from these communities also receive food and cash assistance, up 45 percent from 2020.
Amid growing mental health needs, more than 26,300 Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian children, as well as 10,000 caregivers, have benefited from focused psychosocial support activities.
Furthermore, nearly 120 centrally-run cities have received support to enhance basic service delivery through community projects in high-risk areas, including restoring infrastructure to livelihoods, education and agricultural land.
UN and Lebanon promote reform cooperation
In another announcement on Monday, the United Nations and Lebanon signed an agreement to promote cooperation in key areas and achieve sustainable development.
The “Compact cooperation” aimed at ensuring synchronized and consistent support for the Lebanese Parliament in achieving key reform priorities, with technical assistance from the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Lebanon.
The agreement was signed by the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, and Ms. Rochdi, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.
The two officials welcomed the progress made in enhancing the existing cooperation between UNCT and the Lebanese Parliament. They also stressed the importance of promoting and institutionalizing this partnership, while scaling up joint efforts in institutional reform.
