Beirut: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced over £5 million in additional emergency humanitarian funding to assist thousands of vulnerable and displaced civilians across Lebanon in meeting their basic needs. This significant aid will be channeled through partners including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) via the British Red Cross (BRC), and the UN OCHA Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF).
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Foreign Secretary stressed the urgency of addressing the widening conflict in Lebanon, which has resulted in civilian casualties and mass displacement. The UK's financial assistance, in response to the Flash Appeal for Lebanon launched on March 13, will be implemented in coordination with the Government of Lebanon. The package includes support for the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) National Shock Response Safety Net (SRSN) emergency programme via WFP. Additional funds will be allocated to the LRC for medical supplies and relief items, and to the LHF to support thousands of displaced families across the nation.
The UK is also adapting its ongoing humanitarian programming to offer immediate lifesaving assistance through existing partners. This includes emergency relief efforts by the Lebanese Red Cross, which involves distributing 1,000 ready-to-eat meals, 2,500 hygiene kits, 1,000 blankets, and 2,500 fuel vouchers to displaced individuals. The International Organisation for Migration will provide core relief items to 6,000 displaced individuals in shelters.
Further measures include Emergency Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services through UNFPA and partnerships with NGOs such as Caritas, Fe-Male, and Akkarouna. These services will be available inside and outside shelters and via a Mobile Medical Unit. UNICEF will supply emergency education materials for over 120,000 children and dignity kits for 10,000 adolescent girls in collective shelters.
Other UK support encompasses strengthening frontline GBV response in shelters with ABAAD NGO, alongside on-the-job coaching for MoSA social workers and primary healthcare staff. Additionally, 500 meals are being provided daily to displaced Lebanese and Palestinian families in five collective shelters in Beirut.
British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell emphasized the critical need to protect civilians, healthcare workers, frontline responders, and civilian infrastructure. He reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting Lebanon through this £5 million funding, ensuring the basic needs of thousands of vulnerable and displaced individuals are met while maintaining close coordination with the Government of Lebanon and humanitarian partners.