UNHCR Lebanon Emergency Flash Update (14 October 2024)

Situation overview

• Three weeks ago, Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon, a country that has already been through loss and destruction. These weeks have been the deadliest – and the most devastating - for Lebanon in decades.

• Lebanese authorities refer to 1.2 million people affected, while the joint IOM and UNHCR tracking shows that as of 14 October, 746,584 Lebanese and Syrian people have been internally displaced in Lebanon (Source:
IOM/DTM round 53).

• Since October 2023, UNHCR identified over 45,000 refugees who are secondarily displaced, including 34,000 since 23 September only, 98% being Syrian refugees.

• UNHCR estimates that at least 340,000 Syrian refugees were residing in the cadasters most affected by the hostilities*.

• The most urgent needs are access to safe shelters, core relief items, healthcare, food, cash assistance, and protection services.

• To date, the latest hostilities have resulted in some 2,350 deaths and 10,924 injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

• Over 283,000 people are estimated to have crossed from Lebanon to Syria since the escalation of hostilities, with around 70 per cent Syrians and 30 per cent Lebanese nationals

Key highlights

• In support of the Government-led emergency response, the humanitarian community launched a Flash Appeal to enable partners to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance. The appeal seeks $425.7 million to assist 1 million people affected by the crisis over the next three months.

• As part of the Interagency response, UNHCR has released an Emergency Appeal for Lebanon, urgently seeking to $111 million to scale up the response and cover immediate needs across all vulnerable population groups, including Lebanese and refugee.

• UNHCR Emergency Appeal for Lebanon includes increased requirements for procurement and distribution of core relief items, cash assistance and support to institutions in the response.
UNHCR continues calling on all actors to maintain and apply humanitarian principles and allow equal access to assistance.