Remarks by Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, on the Extension of the Lebanon Flash Appeal

Your Excellencies Deputy Prime Minister al Shami, Ministers, distinguished representatives of Member States and members of the donor community, 

Colleagues from the United Nations, international and national humanitarian organizations, 

Thank you for joining us here today early in the new year, which I hope will be one of peace and prosperity for Lebanon. 

2024 was, unfortunately, one of the darkest years in Lebanon’s recent history.

Over the past 15 years, this country has faced relentless crises—the fallout of the Syrian conflict, economic collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut Port explosion, political paralysis, and now the devastation of the conflict. The violence has left entire towns and villages in ruins, from the South to the Bekaa, and even in the North—areas largely untouched even during the civil war. 

Through all these crises, the suffering of affected communities and the increase in humanitarian needs has been a constant.

Over the years, families have lost loved ones, savings, homes, and livelihoods. In 2024, we witnessed such tragedy unfold on a much larger scale. A month after the cessation of hostilities, over 125,000 people remain displaced and hundreds of thousands attempting to return to their homes are grieving, struggling, and searching for a path forward amidst the destruction.

In the conflict-affected areas that I have visited jointly with Minister Yassin and government officials in recent weeks, I have seen firsthand the devastation of civilian infrastructure and basic services — healthcare facilities reduced to rubble, government buildings destroyed, agricultural land scorched, water stations and mobile networks rendered useless.

Not all of the damage is physical. The psychological trauma of the war cuts deep into the fabric of daily life, hindering recovery. Children and adults, I’ve spoken to remain haunted by sleepless nights; the simple sound of a slamming door can throw them into a state of fear and panic.

This toll may not be temporary; it may leave psychological scars that could last a lifetime.

Esteemed members of the international community, 

We know you share a deep admiration for Lebanon — its diversity, natural beauty and culture, as well as its people’s unmatched generosity. Today, we are calling on you to sustain your generosity in return as vulnerable people endure the coming months of winter and look towards a new season of recovery.

Your support has been a lifeline for Lebanon over the past many years and months. You stood in solidarity after the Beirut Port explosion, helping people to rebuild their lives and neighborhoods. You supported the healthcare system through the COVID-19 pandemic and cholera epidemic, enabling it to save lives. You supported the government and communities that welcomed the influx of more than a million refugees fleeing civil war in Syria. 

Over the past 15 months of conflict and the intense 66 days of war, your contributions enabled the humanitarian community to respond rapidly and effectively, providing critical assistance to nearly 900,000 people during the first phase of the flash appeal, which was 58% funded.

Our work, however, is far from over. For the next three months, an additional $371.4 million is urgently needed to sustain life-saving efforts and prevent the worsening of an already dire situation.

This new funding requirement under the Flash Appeal is complementary to the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP), which focuses on stabilization and medium-term support for recovering communities. The Flash Appeal prioritizes meeting immediate needs in the short term. 

Importantly, past unmet funding needs under the October-December 2024 Flash Appeal are not carried over into this new funding request.

I take this opportunity to commend the Prime Minister and the Government Emergency Committee (GEC) for their continued leadership of the response. Prime Minister Mikati’s political and diplomatic efforts – his proactive engagement on the international stage and persistent calls for a sustainable cessation of fire and a political solution have been crucial in navigating these challenging times.

We in the United Nations and broader humanitarian community remain committed to supporting Lebanon and particularly the most vulnerable to meet basic needs, in an inclusive and principled manner. In collaboration with ministries and other partners, we have already begun assessing the damage and identifying priority needs to support recovery efforts.

We collectively must ensure the cessation of hostilities holds. Peace is the only path that will allow affected communities, particularly those still displaced from border areas, to return to their homes and begin rebuilding their lives.

The people of Lebanon are asking for the chance to restore their dignity and to create a future in the country they refuse to give up on. Your support to Lebanon is not just an act of compassion—it is an investment in peace, stability, and humanity itself.

Thank you.