Lebanon: UNRWA Protection Update (January – March 2025)

This quarterly update is intended to provide information on protection risks and trends impacting Palestine Refugees in Lebanon. It reflects key protection concerns arising from UNRWA’s protection monitoring and is not intended to be exhaustive.

Context Update

Despite a ceasefire going into effect on 27 November 2024, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon continued to be reported during the first quarter of 2025. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire took effect.i

On 22 and 28 March 2025 rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon. Further to an investigation, the Lebanese government attributed the attacks to members of Hamas.ii The military court indicted nine Hamas members for forming an armed group undermining state authority, amassing heavy weapons and violating UNSC 1701. This led to the tightening of the security cordon around several Palestinian camps with additional access and movement restrictions. It also precipitated a broader initiative on demilitarization of Palestinian camps throughout Lebanon, now being pursued.

On 9 January 2025, Lebanon’s Parliament elected Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the country’s 14th President. This followed a 14-month hiatus during which the Presidency remained unfilled. The election of Joseph Aoun opened the way for the formation of a new government in Lebanon headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in February 2025. In his inaugural speech, President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to national security and the exclusive authority of the state over arms, and included a call for the disarmament of Palestinian groups in the camps.iii Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s opposition to the permanent settlement (tawteen) of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon, pledging to address longstanding issues through diplomatic dialogue while ensuring security within the camps.

Poor economic conditions prevail across Palestinian camps exacerbated by the rising cost of living. Families told UNRWA of their struggle to afford increased rent and transportation costs, and their need to resort to negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and selling personal belongings to survive. Unemployment remains high, although those with trade skills (e.g., aluminium, carpentry, construction) appear more likely to find work.

To help alleviate food insecurity and address winter- related energy needs amidst ongoing economic and security challenges, UNRWA delivered generalised food assistance targeting all Palestine Refugees in Lebanon between 28 February and 27 March 2025. A total of 69,294 families received 128,997 food parcels, each containing 18 kg of essential food items aimed at supporting vulnerable households during Ramadan. In parallel, UNRWA distributed 42,500 fuel vouchers—each covering 25 litres of diesel—to 5,319 families to counter harsh winter conditions in the Bekaa Valley. However, cash assistance payments for Palestine Refugees from Syria (PRS) and to Palestine Refugees from Lebanon (PRL) who are recipients of Social Safety Net (SSN) benefits, had to be delayed due to financial constraints facing UNRWA, exacerbating hardships among those affected and leading to protests at UNRWA service points. Protests by beneficiaries requesting enrolment in cash-for-work projects during the reporting period also caused disruptions to some services.

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