Lebanon: Rapid Humanitarian Situation Monitoring (RHSM) - December, 2024

Context & Rationale

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains extremely fluid. From 08 October 2023, the country saw a steady increase in conflict incidents, primarily along its Southern border. In September 2024, a significant escalation in hostilities saw a cross-border invasion as well as intense clashes and airstrikes that sparked mass displacement and caused widespread damage to critical infrastructure.1 At its peak, IOM-DTM estimated the number of displaced persons (IDPs) to be 899,725.2 The governorates of Baalbek-El Hermel and Beqaa experienced extensive airstrikes and large population movements, with residents often leaving conflict affected cadastres following short-notice evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army in search of refuge in safer areas. In this context of heightened insecurity, constrained social and economic activities, and massive displacement, REACH conducted data collection in eastern governorates to improve information availability on the needs of affected populations from 11 to 20 November 2024.

The announcement of a ceasefire on 27 November 2024 triggered immediate and large-scale return movement. However, the fragility of the ceasefire and the recent fall of the Assad regime in neighboring Syria may contribute to further instability in the region and population movements. To plan an effective response, humanitarian partners require up-to-date data on humanitarian needs and service functionality in conflict-affected areas. REACH’s Humanitarian Situation Monitoring (HSM) supports the monitoring of access to essential services in selected areas over time, enabling coordination forums to make data-driven decisions about prioritizing and targeting assistance.

Key Findings

• At the time of data collection, the priority needs identified were food, cash, health services, and winter heating. Following the ceasefire, the restoration of economic activity, health services, and improved humanitarian access are expected to reduce the demand for food and health support. However, infrastructure rehabilitation and winter heating are expected to remain priority needs in areas affected by damage.
• The cadastres of Youmine, Baalbek, Bouday, and Serraine El Tahta have high damages and limited access to services. While conditions may improve with better security and the return of displaced service providers, ongoing population movements linked to developments in Syria could continue to strain local services.
• Insecurity was a major barrier to accessing markets, health facilities, and livelihoods, driving the need for food, medication, and cash. 3 If the ceasefire holds, this barrier is likely to diminish, reducing the severity of needs. However, due to limited cash access from disrupted livelihoods, restoring livelihoods will be crucial to ensuring sustainable access to services.
• High needs for humanitarian assistance were reported across most cadastres, primarily due to insufficient aid meeting household needs. Although insecurity was a key barrier, the ceasefire is anticipated to improve access to assistance. Continuous monitoring will be essential to address persisting challenges, including lack of awareness about available services.

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