UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih (centre) speaks to internally displaced Lebanese families in Beirut. © UNHCR/Houssam Hariri
BEIRUT – Protection of civilians in Lebanon and sustained international support for the Government‑led response to the country’s huge displacement crisis are imperative, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, said on Wednesday. One fifth of Lebanon’s population is now displaced, with needs growing daily. Salih urged a quick end to the conflict before it spirals out of control.
During his first official visit to Lebanon as UNHCR chief, Salih reaffirmed the UN Refugee Agency’s solidarity with Lebanon and its people. He underscored the organization’s continued commitment to the humanitarian response and the urgent need for sustained international support for national relief efforts, amid ongoing hostilities and large‑scale displacement. More than 1 million people were forced to flee Israeli strikes in less than six weeks.
“What I witnessed on the ground is devastating,” Salih said. “The destruction is immense, and the stories of civilian loss and suffering are heartbreaking. Entire families have been displaced, lives uprooted and communities pushed to the brink. The needs are growing by the day, and the international community must act urgently to protect innocent civilians, provide life-saving assistance and prevent a further spiral into catastrophe.”
The High Commissioner visited affected areas in Beirut and the Bekaa valley, meeting displaced families in government‑established sites. Many were forced to flee their homes at very short notice without personal belongings amid repeated evacuation orders, triggering fear and uncertainty. They stressed to the High Commissioner their wish to return to their homes despite the large-scale destruction in their towns and villages.
Since early March, over 1 million people have been displaced across Lebanon with over 2,100 deaths and 7,000 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Refugees are among the casualties, with 48 fatalities and 116 injuries.
More than 140,000 individuals are sheltering in 684 Government‑designated collective shelters, nearly all at full capacity. Among the displaced are Syrian refugees who had fled to Lebanon looking for safety in the past, and now are forced to flee for their lives again. Over 280,000 people have crossed into Syria since 2 March through the three official border crossings, including nearly 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
UNHCR is supporting the Government, leading the emergency response to address the crisis and people’s needs, and working with local authorities and humanitarian partners. Salih met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Raggi, and Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmed Al‑Hajjar.
UNHCR and partners have assisted over 196,000 displaced individuals by providing essential relief items. UNHCR has also increased emergency shelter assistance to help create safe and dignified conditions for the displaced. UNHCR is also providing psychosocial support, cash assistance and protection counselling and advice to help displaced people recover lost documents, reunite with family, and access services and accommodation.
But the needs far exceed current resources. UNHCR reiterates its call for increased international funding and engagement so the response can keep pace with rising needs and prevent these from escalating into tensions. The international community must continue supporting Lebanon and its people at this critical juncture.
Media contacts:
- In Beirut: Dalal Harb, harbda@unhcr.org, +961 70 113107
- In Amman: Rula Amin, aminr@unhcr.org, +962 (0) 790 045 84
- In Geneva: Matthew Saltmarsh, saltmars@unhcr.org, +41 79 967 99 36
