Lebanon Situation Report | August 2025

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In Lebanon, the socioeconomic situation remains fragile, intensifying vulnerabilities across both Lebanese and refugee communities. The recent conflict in Lebanon is widely regarded as the country’s most destructive since the end of its civil war in 1990.

Though the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon reduced full-scale warfare, Israel maintains positions in five border areas, and targeted strikes persist. Reports indicate both host and refugee communities live in constant fear of airstrikes and shelling, especially those located in border areas.

The effects of the recent conflict, which inflicted an estimated $14 billion worth of damage, continue to be felt, including through the continued displacement of significant numbers of people. The country’s new finance minister, Yassine Jaber, reports that the country is unable to afford any of the necessary reconstruction costs. The ongoing economic stagnation and overall reductions in humanitarian assistance continue to affect livelihoods.

Unexploded ordnance from the war poses a threat to civilian safety. The continued use of explosive weapons, including airstrikes and artillery, has left behind a growing number of hazardous remnants, particularly in southern and eastern areas where the intensity of shelling has been highest.

Shelter & Displacement

Between December 2024 and June 2025, an estimated 108,032 Syrians crossed into Lebanon. Key reasons for leaving Syria include recent political shifts, rising criminal activity, and escalating community tensions. Newly arrived individuals report facing significant hardship stemming from both persecution in Syria and stigmatization in Lebanon, primarily due to religious differences and perceived political affiliations.

Economic and Food Security Outlook

Lebanon’s real GDP is projected to grow by 5% in 2025 due to the implementation of reforms, a gradual return of tourism, and limited capital inflows, the economy remains 40% below 2019 levels. And a punishing inflation rate of 15% is forecast. Women are particularly affected, as more than 80% of employed women work in the economic sectors that have been hardest hit.

More than half of the Lebanese population live below the poverty line. Among refugees, the situation is even worse, with nine out of 10 Syrian refugees requiring humanitarian assistance in order to meet their basic needs and 93% of Palestinian refugees living in poverty.

A recent analysis finds that one in five people — 1.17 million Lebanese residents, Syrian refugees, and Palestinian refugees — continue to experience high levels of acute food insecurity. In June 2025, the cost of food in Lebanon was reportedly 21% higher than the same period in 2024.

Health

A UN survey earlier this year, found that access to medications has diminished this year, in part due to reductions in the aid provided by humanitarian organizations, as well as price increases that render medicines too expensive to purchase.

The Environment

Lebanon is facing its most severe drought in recent years, with precipitation levels more than 50% below average this past winter. Water volumes in major dams are 65% lower than in 2024, threatening the water supply and hydropower generation. Rising salinity in wells is further straining Beirut’s already fragile urban water systems.

Education

Of 1.2 million school-aged Lebanese children, over 10% are out of school, largely due to financial hardship. And 54% of 715,000 Syrian refugee children have no access to formal education, while only 47,000 have some form of access to non-formal education. Among non-Lebanese children, 28,000 are excluded from formal education due to the lack of documentation necessary to register in public schools. The World Bank estimates that 59 educational facilities have been destroyed in the recent war, and an additional 299 have been partially damaged, further impeding access to learning.

Anera’s Response

Health

Anera recently distributed proton pump inhibitors to over 400 health centers across Lebanon — nearly 78,000 packs. And for the third time, Anera secured life-saving antihemophilic factor VIII treatments to prevent and manage bleeding episodes for 350 patients living with hemophilia in Lebanon.

Anera also provided 150 treatment courses of new-generation antipsychotic medications for patients with severe mental illnesses, ensuring continuity of care for some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.

Cash Assistance

Anera is preparing to distribute Lebanon Humanitarian Fund-funded cash assistance in South Lebanon, targeting 1,289 of the most vulnerable households identified by the Ministry of Social Affairs. We will deliver assistance over three rounds, with each round valued at $220,120. Each eligible household will receive $20 per individual for food security, $45 per household for basic assistance, and $55 per household for water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. This support will enable families to purchase food, cover essential household expenses, and address critical water, sanitation, and hygiene requirements.

Agriculture

In response to Lebanon’s multiple crises, Anera has adopted a new agriculture strategy to address both immediate survival needs and long-term recovery. The approach bolsters household food security through urban rooftop gardens for immediate food security support; farmer recovery and resilience through infrastructure rehabilitations and expansions along with modernization of farming systems; and micro, small and medium enterprises revival to strengthen agri-business ecosystems with market assessments and data-driven strategies to support recovery and growth for businesses all along Lebanon’s domestic food supply chain.

Postwar Rehabilitation and Reconstruction

In July, Anera launched the rehabilitation of water infrastructure in Debaal, South Lebanon, focusing on restoring the community’s water storage capacity and distribution network. The program includes the refurbishment of the main water tank, replacement of damaged internal pipelines, and the installation of new valves to improve water flow and reduce leakage. Once completed in the coming weeks, this work will secure reliable and safe daily water access for approximately 600 families, strengthening resilience and reducing dependence on costly alternative water sources.

Education & Livelihoods

In response to the 2024 war, Anera prioritized recovery efforts in Lebanon’s most affected areas. Recognizing the urgent need to address both immediate recovery and long-term resilience, Anera focused on economic rehabilitation and community empowerment. The program combined vocational training to equip youth (ages 18–25) with practical, market-relevant skills for sustainable employment, alongside paid work opportunities that provided immediate financial relief through temporary employment in recovery-related activities.

With Anera’s support, 560 youth produced and distributed a total of 24,700 aid kits, including 14,800 spring kits and 9,900 winter kits, while 810 youth prepared and delivered 292,189 meals to displaced persons and other vulnerable populations. Additionally, 1,463 youth engaged in construction-related activities such as repairing irrigation canals, rehabilitating critical school infrastructure, improving roadways, and manufacturing 80 mattresses, 71 sofa-beds, 218 closets, and 9 tables. Furthermore, 40 youth contributed to the installation of solar streetlights in Rashaya and Yohmor in Bekaa, Ain Sayde in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, in addition to painting public school facilities. Meanwhile, 242 youth provided psychosocial support to 7,470 people, addressing essential mental health needs.

Anera has designed and equipped holistic classrooms to create a supportive and engaging learning environment for refugee girls in Nahr El Bared. We enrolled a total of 148 girls in the after-school program, which boosted the academic performance of 51% of the girls (as reflected in their school grades). The dropout rate is below 4%.

Volunteering

The Nahno Volunteers program, a national platform launched by the UN, Anera, and partners that connects youth across Lebanon to community service initiatives, continues to expand its reach and impact. Recently in Rachaya, 50 youth volunteers actively participated in planting 50 trees, contributing to local environmental restoration efforts. The program also hosted seven climate education sessions, reaching approximately 100 youth with awareness on environmental challenges and sustainable practices.