Lebanon 

• A complex humanitarian crisis in Lebanon
• The Canadian Red Cross and Lebanese Red Cross collaboration
• How you can help people in Lebanon

A complex humanitarian crisis in Lebanon 

(Photo credit: Ibrahim Malla / IFRC)

Lebanon has faced an evolving and complex humanitarian crisis for several years, resulting in high levels of poverty and food insecurity. The combined impacts of a worsening economic crisis and political unrest have left growing numbers of people at risk, creating a widespread need for humanitarian assistance and protection. 

The Port of Beirut explosion in 2020 also severely affected the already-strained economic and healthcare systems, further increasing humanitarian needs. 

The United Nations estimates that, as a result of these crises, more than 80 per cent of people in Lebanon are living in multidimensional poverty, struggling to access healthcare, electricity, clean water, sanitation systems, transportation, connectivity and a source of income. 

Lebanon also hosts the highest per capita of refugees in the world. There is an estimated 1.5 million people from Syria, 257,000 people from the occupied Palestinian territory, and thousands more from other countries. The situation for these massive influxes of refugees continues to worsen as the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon grows. It’s estimated that 90 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living in extreme poverty. 

The Canadian Red Cross and Lebanese Red Cross collaboration 

(Photo credit: Lebanese Red Cross)

The Canadian Red Cross has been working closely with the Lebanese Red Cross since 2015 to support the population’s critical health needs.

The Canadian Red Cross has supported the Lebanese Red Cross to: 

• Operate primary health care centres, mobile medical units, mobile community outreach teams, and Emergency Medical Services, both with medicine and medical supplies. 
• Protect their personnel with personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 care centre medical staff. 
• Deliver accessible, affordable community and facility-based health services. 
• Provide community health programming, including sexual and reproductive health rights for women, men, adolescents, and children living in Lebanon.  
• Provide information on where people can access basic health care and sexual and reproductive health services. 
• Respond to emergencies and disasters with immediate cash contributions. 

The Lebanese Red Cross is also prioritizing ways to sustain its vital health services, which are provided at an affordable cost to the population to cope with the surge in demand as it relates to the economic crisis.

How you can help people in Lebanon 

(Photo credit: Lebanese Red Cross)

Lebanon’s capacity to cope with the many overlapping crises has been nearly exhausted. In the absence of long-term and sustainable solutions, the number of people in need is expected to increase as living conditions continue to worsen. People in need of food and other assistance in Lebanon do not have many other options left. 

Donations enable the Canadian Red Cross to continue supporting the efforts of the Lebanese Red Cross and local partners in Lebanon to address these humanitarian needs. 

Donate to the Lebanon Humanitarian Needs Appeal and your funds be channeled through to the Lebanese Red Cross and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners working in Lebanon to help those who need it most.

Lebanon Humanitarian Needs Appeal