Country facts
- 2026 Emergency Watchlist rank: #10
- Total population: 5.4 million
- In need of aid: 4.1 million
- Internally displaced: About 360,000
- Refugees hosted: 1.5 million+, the most per capita in the world
IRC response
- Started work in Lebanon: 2012
Lebanon is facing overlapping crises of conflict, displacement and economic hardship. In 2024, fighting between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah killed more than 4,000 people, injured over 12,000 and displaced nearly 1.2 million, nearly a fifth of the population. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, with reconstruction and recovery costs estimated at more than $11 billion. Renewed hostilities have brought further deaths, injuries and displacement.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued since the collapse of a ceasefire in November 2024. Recurrent, localized violence is ongoing, especially in southern Lebanon.
Nearly 1.2 million people were displaced during the 2024 fighting, and more than a million fled their homes during subsequent escalations in violence.
Lebanon’s economic collapse has pushed more than 80 percent of its population into poverty. Rising violence is deepening the crisis: Families are increasingly unable to afford enough food, and essential health and protection services cannot keep pace with growing demand.
Mental health care needs are acute. Caregivers in shelters described children struggling to sleep, showing signs of anxiety and anger, and fearing the loss of loved ones and their homes.
The IRC has worked in Lebanon since 2012, providing emergency assistance and long-term services for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities.
Healthcare
The IRC supports primary health care centers with technical and material assistance and provides community health services, health education, disease response, referrals and mental health and psychosocial support.
During the 2026 escalation, the IRC supported three of Lebanon’s four national mental health and psychosocial support services and scaled its Mobile Crisis Team to deliver urgent psychological care.
Economic recovery and development
The IRC helps Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees meet basic needs and supports people seeking work or building businesses through skills training, work experience and small-business support.
Education and early childhood development
IRC programs support children from birth through school age with safe learning opportunities, play-based learning, caregiver and teacher support, and access to formal and non-formal education.
Protection
In Lebanon, the IRC provides legal aid, civil documentation support, case management, psychosocial support, and services for women and children. It also works with local services and government systems to strengthen protection and access to justice.
Emergency response
The IRC provides emergency multipurpose cash assistance to help displaced families meet urgent needs such as food, shelter, transportation and medicine.
Support the IRC's work
Donate now to help the IRC support children and families in Lebanon and in crisis zones worldwide.
The IRC is consistently awarded top marks by charity watchdog groups for our efficient use of donor contributions and the effectiveness of our work.
Learn more in the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist.
