Lebanon

Introduction

People in Lebanon, including refugees, face multiple challenges, while having limited access to basic services. In March and April 2026, a new escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah led to the displacement of over 1 million people. The recently agreed ceasefire has not yet significantly lowered the number of internally displaced persons.

Soaring prices have left over 2.3 million Lebanese people, Syrian and Palestinian refugees, food insecure, while the economic crisis has also pushed many Lebanese into poverty. Due to the depreciation of the Lebanese pound and high inflation, people’s purchasing power has significantly decreased.

Regional instability, including violence in Syria, has also displaced over 270,000 Syrians to Lebanon in 2025.

Facts & figures

Through its humanitarian efforts, the EU provides vital support to those in need.

EU humanitarian funding:

over €1 billion since 2011

What are the needs?

Displacement

The recent escalation has resulted in over 1 million internally displaced persons, mostly from southern Lebanon. For the displaced, humanitarian needs are particularly high in the shelter, food, health, protection and basic needs sectors.

Funding gaps also affect the humanitarian outlook and response capacities. The Lebanese Government has deployed its best efforts to tackle this displacement crisis.

While some returns followed the ceasefire, movements remain largely temporary and fluid, with many displaced persons unable to safely return due to insecurity and widespread destruction. Around 123,000 people remain in collective shelters as of the end of April, where living conditions are often strained.

Since November 2025, 115,000 individuals – mostly from Tartous, Lattakia, Homs, and Hama in Syria – have fled to Lebanon. These arrivals from Syria face issues to access:

• essential services
• shelter
• education
• face protection risks

Lebanon’s prolonged financial and political crisis has deepened poverty levels. The government has faced significant challenges in implementing the needed policies and reforms.

The situation is further exacerbated by anti-refugee rhetoric. Lebanon is one of the countries with the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Around 20% of Syrian refugee families live in informal settlements and collective shelters, often in dire conditions, facing discrimination and bureaucratic barriers. Extremely limited livelihood opportunities force refugees to resort to negative coping mechanisms. 

Health system

The health system in Lebanon is under severe strain. UNHCR’s termination of hospitalisation support for refugees – covering emergency admissions and maternity services – has left tens of thousands without inpatient care, doubling the burden on hospitals, especially public ones. Healthcare access had already plummeted due to financial barriers, medicine shortages, and the exodus of medical staff seeking higher wages abroad. The system is currently under increased strain due to the recent escalation and the targeting of medical staff and infrastructure by the Israeli defense forces during the latest hostilities.

Education

Education has also been affected by the current hostilities. The Lebanese Ministry of Education reports, as of March 2026, states that all enrolled public-school children (390,000), have been provided with access to online learning. Over 255,000 of these children had been affected by school closures and the use of schools as shelters.

How are we helping?

In 2026, the EU is providing €100 million in humanitarian aid to help vulnerable populations in Lebanon. 

EU-funded humanitarian partners are also responding to the needs of those displaced during recent hostilities, and those newly arrived in Lebanon due to the hostilities and violence in Syria, by providing: 

• food kits
• healthcare
• hygiene kits
• protection services
• shelter assistance
• and psychosocial support 

The EU has also organised EU humanitarian air bridge flights since the escalation in 2026, delivering essential humanitarian supplies from DG ECHO partners, DG ECHO, and EU Member States.

Since 2011, the EU has allocated over €1 billion in humanitarian aid to respond to the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, both Lebanese and refugees. 

The EU-organised series of Brussels Conferences have also aimed to address the needs of Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon. Through EU humanitarian funding, it supports vulnerable populations by providing not only legal and basic assistance but also:

The EU continues to support services for at-risk children and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Additionally, we fund the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other partners to provide legal aid for obtaining essential documentation and securing legal residency. 

Education in emergencies is a priority for the EU. In Lebanon, we ensure that out-of-school Syrian children have access to non-formal education while also supporting their transition into formal education. 

In the health sector, the EU supports access to quality healthcare, including via the procurement of medicines and life-saving secondary healthcare for the most vulnerable. 

The EU also provides emergency cash assistance to vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian families to help them meet their essential needs. This aims to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis and hostilities and to reduce protection risks.