The United Nations said on Friday it is doubling the funding it says is required to respond to rapidly growing humanitarian needs in Lebanon as the conflict moves into its fourth month. Officials will launch a new appeal alongside the Lebanese government to request an extra $331.5 million, raising the combined appeal to $639.9 million to assist an estimated 1.4 million people.
The U.N. said $185.9 million had been received toward the appeal as of May 31. The expanded request reflects what the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, described as an "appalling situation" across Lebanese communities over the past three months, with high casualties, widespread displacement and extensive damage to infrastructure.
"The toll on civilians is alarming and worsening by the day," Riza said, underlining the humanitarian pressures on hospitals, sheltering systems and other critical services.
Lebanon was pulled into the wider regional war in early March when the Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran, which was under U.S.-Israeli attack, triggering a major Israeli air and ground campaign.
Since March 2, Lebanese authorities report that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. That data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, according to the Lebanese authorities. Israel reports that 26 of its soldiers and four civilians have been killed in Hezbollah attacks since March.
The U.N. initiative aims to scale up humanitarian operations to reach people affected by the intensifying violence and damage, and to plug gaps in aid delivery as displacement and infrastructure losses increase the needs for shelter, medical assistance and other basic services.
The timing of the appeal - launched on Friday with the Lebanese government - seeks to mobilize additional donor resources to close the gap between needs and funding. The U.N. said the expanded appeal would target 1.4 million people across Lebanon, reflecting the breadth of the humanitarian emergency on the ground.
As the conflict persists, the U.N. emphasized that humanitarian needs are growing daily and that the scale-up of assistance will depend on mobilizing the requested resources.
Summary
The U.N. is asking for an additional $331.5 million to address mounting humanitarian needs in Lebanon, bringing the total appeal to $639.9 million to assist 1.4 million people. The appeal follows months of hostilities that have produced thousands of deaths, large-scale displacement and significant infrastructure damage. To date, $185.9 million has been received toward the appeal.
Key Points
- The U.N. will request an extra $331.5 million, bringing the total appeal to $639.9 million to reach 1.4 million people.
- Lebanese authorities report more than 3,500 people killed in Israeli strikes since March 2; their figures do not separate civilians from combatants. Israel reports 26 soldiers and four civilians killed in Hezbollah attacks since March.
- Hostilities have caused widespread displacement and extensive damage to infrastructure, increasing demand on humanitarian, health and shelter services.
Risks and Uncertainties
- Funding shortfall - only $185.9 million of the $639.9 million total appeal had been received as of May 31, creating uncertainty about the scale and speed of the humanitarian response; this affects aid organizations and relief supply chains.
- Escalating civilian toll and displacement - continuing hostilities are described as "alarming and worsening by the day," which risks further strain on health services, shelter provision and infrastructure repair efforts.
- Ongoing conflict dynamics - Lebanon's involvement after Hezbollah rocket fire and the subsequent Israeli air and ground campaign create continued operational hazards for humanitarian access and program delivery.