Lebanon

USAID is providing humanitarian assistance in response to catastrophic explosions that rocked the Port of Beirut in Lebanon on August 4, 2020

Michael R Czaja, PhD | USAID/BHA

Key Developments

On March 30, the United States government announced approximately $153 million in new humanitarian assistance to aid Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The funds will support the provision
of emergency cash and food assistance, health care, and protection services, among other activities.  

Nearly 90 percent of Syrians in Lebanon were living in extreme poverty in 2020, a significant increase compared to 2019.  

Vulnerable Lebanese and refugees are experiencing deteriorating food security conditions across Lebanon due to the ongoing economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Lebanon has experienced several large socioeconomic shocks due to overlapping crises in late 2019 and 2020, including ongoing political instability, the steep deterioration of the economy, and the emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).  Hyperinflation, the depreciation of the Lebanese lira, lack of livelihood opportunities, and rising prices has diminished the purchasing power of many Lebanese households, increasing vulnerabilities.  Meanwhile, COVID-19 has strained health care system capacity and contributed to deteriorating socioeconomic conditions in the country.  In November 2019, the World Bank estimated that the combined impacts of soaring inflation and the rapid rise in the price of many basic goods could push more than 50 percent of the Lebanese population below the poverty line during 2020, an increase of approximately 20 percent compared to 2018 estimates.