Press Releases

Critical funding shortfalls are forcing the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to significantly scale back its operations in Syria. WFP has reduced its emergency food assistance by 50 percent, from 1.3 million people to 650,000 in May, and halted a nationwide bread subsidy programme that has supported millions daily.

Mental Health Matters – Awareness Program by Medrar Foundation and LAU Civic Engagement Students In partnership with the Lebanese American University (LAU) Civic Engagement Students, Medrar Foundation launched a community initiative titled “Mental Health Matters.” The program aimed to break the stigma surrounding mental health in Lebanon and to equip individuals—especially youth and parents—with practical coping tools to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional distress during economic and social hardships.

Khadija tenderly cradles her five-year-old daughter’s head as she walks into Al Ward Primary Health Centre – a modest building that has become a lifeline for families navigating the pressures of Lebanon’s multiple crises.

Lebanon is currently facing drought-like conditions not seen in recent decades, with rainfall down by more than 50 per cent and reservoirs at alarmingly low levels.

Following the rapid power shift in Damascus on 8 December 2024, the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter referred to as Syria) is undergoing a pivotal transformation, reshaping its humanitarian, political, demographic, and recovery landscape.

Humanitarian access due to roadblocks, insecurity and other impediments to As-Sweida remains constrained, hampering the ability of humanitarians to assess need and to provide critical life-saving assistance.

As of 30 June 2025, UNHCR Lebanon had received just 22 per cent of its required funding, with little visibility on funding projections in the coming months.

Thanks to support from the OCHA-managed Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund, 20,000 children have received educational services and psychological care, as well as access to accessible schooling.

On June 10, 2025, the European Commission formally moved Lebanon into its “high-risk” category for money laundering and terrorist financing, a stark signal that, despite years of incremental reforms, the country’s AML/CFT safeguards still fall short of global expectations.

Along with the catastrophic impact of the conflict and the refugee’s influx, Lebanon continues to face a multi-layered crisis characterized by deep-rooted vulnerabilities and acute humanitarian needs. The crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including financial and socio-economic downturn and political deadlock.

The National Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Lebanon (NCEILebanon) hosted a landmark seminar, on AI for a National Strategy in Lebanon, as an introduction to NCEILebanon AI Initiative The event brought together government officials, academic leaders, and industry experts to lay the groundwork for Lebanon’s comprehensive national AI strategy.

Since its inception in 2014, the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) has allocated almost $1.1 billion, ensuring that lifesaving assistance reached millions of vulnerable Syrians through the cross-border modality.

The Lebanon Aid Tracking exercise aims to present an overview of all international funding flows to Lebanon including development, humanitarian, security, and all other types of funds to fulfil the humanitarian and development partners’ commitment to provide the government of Lebanon and partners with real-time and transparent information on aid flows coming to Lebanon.

Sweeping sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries are hindering the restoration of essential services in Syria, Human Rights Watch said today.

As the first days of a post-Assad Syria begin to settle, how aid should resume will be a key policy question for Syrians, aid actors and member states alike

The current crisis is exacerbating long-term vulnerabilities, reversing previous development gains, and leading to increasingly visible humanitarian needs among the most vulnerable people.

Since October 2023, over 10,200 attacks have occurred along the Blue Line, resulting in substantial casualties. More than one million people have been directly affected and/or displaced across Lebanon, with nearly 160,000 in over 850 collective shelters, often in public facilities like schools and agricultural centers.

تعمل مبادرة التعلّم المشترك (JLI) على مواجهة الخلل في توازن القوى والموارد والقيادة من خلال توجيه عملها البحثيّ في الإيمان إلى مستوى إقليمي - إلى الشّرق الأوسط وشرق أفريقيا وجنوب شرق آسيا وغيرها.

يشكّل أفراد المجتمع الّذين تُلهم عقيدتهم الإيمانيّة أفعالهم وسلوكهم جزءا لا يتجزّأ من المجتمع الحضاريّ في شتّى أنحاء العالم. تقوم الجهات المحليّة الفاعلة دينيّا (كالكنائس والأئمّة وبعض القياديّين الدّينيّين بمن فيهم كبار الشّيوخ) بدور فاعل في مجتمعاتهم المحليّة، عبر تقديم المساعدة والأمل لمن يحتاجهما ومعالجة مشاكل المجتمع الضّروريّة، على الأخصّ في المناطق المهمّشة والتي تفتقر إلى دعم دولها. ومع ذلك،...

The Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI) is  working towards shifting power, resources and leadership in its faith-focused research and evidence work to a regional level – to the Middle East, East Africa, South East Asia, and beyond

In many parts of the world, individuals or groups whose actions are motivated by their faith make up an important part of civil society. Local faith actors (such as churches, imams but also informal religious leaders including respected elders) often play significant roles in their local communities, serving those most in need, providing...

بيروت، الإثنين ٢٥ تشرين الأول/أوكتوبر ٢٠٢١ - 

يسرّ فريق المركز الإعلان عن استمرار مركز دعم لبنان في عمله ومهمّته تحت اسمٍ جديد: مركز العلوم الاجتماعية للأبحاث التطبيقيّة.  

يأتي تغيير اسم المركز ليعكس بشكل أفضل عملَه المستمرّ الذي شهدَ توسُّعًا ونموًّا خلال ١٥ عامًا، بما يتماشى مع شعاره العلوم الاجتماعية من أجل التغيير من خلال الأبحاث التحويلية والتعاون. 

موقعنا متاح الآن على https://socialsciences-centre.org/ 

أُنشئ المركز في أعقاب الحرب الإسرائيلية على لبنان في تمّوز ٢۰۰٦ لتوثيق وتيسير مشاركة المعلومات وإدارتها، فضلًا عن تعزيز التعاون والشراكات بين مختلف الجهات الفاعلة في المجتمع المدني اللبناني...