EU support brings urgent aid to families forced to flee their homes in Lebanon

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with the European Union and the Governments of Ireland and Italy, welcomed today a humanitarian airbridge flight carrying urgently needed emergency relief items to support the growing number of forcibly displaced families across Lebanon.

“This fifth EU-funded humanitarian flight to Lebanon is part of our ongoing efforts to deliver essential supplies from the EU, its Member States and humanitarian partners to address urgent needs on the ground. The aid will support families displaced by the conflict and will be distributed to them through shelters and response centres. The European Union remains committed to responding quickly to urgent needs, with a focus on life-saving assistance and ensuring essential services continue for those most affected,” said European Union Ambassador Sandra De Waele.

Since 2 March 2026, escalating hostilities across Lebanon have forced over one million people to flee their homes in southern Lebanon, parts of the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, leaving behind belongings, livelihoods, and entire communities. Airstrikes, shelling, repeated evacuation warnings and ground operations have intensified in scale and reach, causing widespread displacement and destruction to residential buildings, healthcare facilities, roads, water networks, and public services. Many families, including Syrian refugees who make up around one fifth of Lebanon’s population and are also fleeing areas under attack, are now in urgent need of safety and shelter, as the security situation rapidly deteriorates and humanitarian needs exponentially grow.

"These thermal blankets will be vital for the thousands of families taking shelter in public buildings, particularly those in cold and mountainous areas. Many are refugees that have been displaced repeatedly, losing not just their possessions, but the sense of stability that allows people to plan and hope for the future. “Ireland is pleased to be part of this joint EU humanitarian response, with Italy and the European Commission. It is an important contribution to the invaluable work of the UNHCR in Lebanon, which is working so tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of those displaced”, said Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond.

“Following a first humanitarian airlift delivered last week, this new airbridge operation reflects Italy’s continued commitment to supporting the response at a time of acute and rapidly evolving needs. With these flights, Italy has delivered around 40 tons of relief items to support displaced families across the country. We have further allocated €10 million in response to the Lebanon Flash Appeal, with the objective of scaling up assistance to displaced populations in close coordination with UNHCR, humanitarian partners and Lebanese institutions, in line with national priorities”, said Fabrizio Marcelli, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon.

The newly arrived supplies will be distributed to displaced families across Lebanon, including those in government-designated collective shelters and in host communities, in close coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and the Disaster Risk Management Unit (DRM) to ensure full alignment with the national response mechanism.

“Thanks to the generous support of the European Union, Ireland, and Italy, we can get urgently needed aid straight to displaced families in Lebanon. Over 36,900 essential items - from kitchen sets to blankets and jerry cans - will help people who have been forced to flee cover some of their most basic needs during this extremely challenging time, and ensure we are prepared for further potential displacement,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon.

The Lebanon Flash Appeal calls for US $308.3 million to provide lifesaving assistance and protection to up to 1,000,000 people. In line with the Lebanon Flash Appeal and under this Emergency Appeal, UNHCR requires US $61 million to assist 600,000 affected persons for an initial period of three months.