UN seeks $308 million for Lebanon as war displaces 800,000 people

“Solidarity in words must be accompanied by solidarity in action,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, announcing the campaign from Beirut.

The United Nations on Friday launched a flash appeal for $308 million to help Lebanon deal with the aftermath of a war that has forced more than a seventh of its population from their homes.

“Solidarity in words must be accompanied by solidarity in action,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, announcing the campaign from Beirut.

The Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2, claiming it was trying to avenge the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. In retaliation, Israel began targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah continued its daily rocket and drone attacks against Israeli territory and civilian areas, while Israel expanded its ground operations and airstrikes, bombing terrorist infrastructure in the capital on Thursday, as well as in other parts of the country on Friday.

More than 800,000 Lebanese citizens were displaced due to evacuation warnings issued by Israel ahead of strikes on Lebanese areas where civilians may be present.

But aid organizations say funding constraints have already forced them to ration supplies and that substantial new contributions are essential.

“We’re only targeting those who are truly on the verge of starvation or in starvation,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program.

“There is no more margin, so as needs increase, resources will have to increase – and they certainly cannot decrease,” Skau told Reuters.

“A tense financing landscape”

Aid organizations say global crises have limited their response in Lebanon, a country already hit hard by the 2019 economic collapse, the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Skau said the WFP fears that donor governments could face new budgetary constraints following the surge in global energy prices triggered by the war in Iran.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said last September that it had received only 25% of the resources needed for Lebanon in 2025, forcing it to significantly reduce cash aid programs.

“The current outbreak or escalation of hostilities is exacerbating an already strained funding landscape,” said Kirollos Fares, Lebanon director of humanitarian organization Medair.

Humanitarian group Solidarités International has already seen a drop in the number and amount of grants, Lebanon country director Daniele Regazzi said.

“…Unless new money is released, what we are currently deploying as an emergency response…will disappear in the next two weeks,” he said.