NNA - International funding for Lebanon has increased by 48% since June, as shown by the latest funding update released by the Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Philippe Lazzarini, on Wednesday.
As of the end of August 2016, available resources stood at US$ 1.57 billion, with US$ 1.22 billion already disbursed or committed to be disbursed this year and US$ 344 million carried over from 2015 by UN agencies, the World Bank and NGOs. This includes US$ 979 million provided to UN agencies and NGOs in support of activities under the 2016 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), which is now 47% funded.
This level of funding shows the continued high level of donor support to Lebanon in response to the impact of the Syrian crisis. While commending the strong solidarity towards Lebanon, Lazzarini stressed that continued support is essential: as highlighted by the newly-released 2016 Vulnerability Assessment, more than 70% of Syrian refugees live now below the poverty line (US$ 3.84 per day).
Poverty also hits the Lebanese population, with approximately 32% of Lebanese living in poverty according to the LCRP.
"We have achieved a huge amount of assistancethanks to the generous support provided to Lebanon by donor countries so far, but much more needs to be done," the Humanitarian and Resident Coordinatoremphasized. "Host communities have been remarkable providers of assistance to refugees, but the responsibility to address this crisis is collective.As world leaders come together at the UN General Assembly to discuss the urgent issue of refugees and migrants, we call on all countries to reinforce their international solidarity and continue to helpLebanon cope with the wide-ranging impact of the Syria crisis. Lebanon is at the frontline of a conflict that has brought more than a million people in desperate need of assistance, while having a major impact on Lebanon's economy, infrastructure and demography."