Lebanon

Lebanon is currently facing a multi-faceted crisis, exacerbated by political instability, economic collapse, and the spillover effects of conflicts in the region. The recent escalation in military operations in the South and Beirut has resulted in a significant displacement of people towards Saida, Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the North creating urgent humanitarian needs. The majority of those displaced ended up in schools that have been opened as collective sites. Recent DRM figures indicate more than 1000 collective sites hosting 41,441 households (188,183 individuals) with numbers expected to increase as registration is ongoing and secondary displacements are taking place.  

The recent escalation and persisting conflict exacerbate the already challenging living conditions, intensifying the growing needs of these displaced communities. The Lebanese government, in collaboration with the humanitarian community, is spearheading the emergency response. 

In governorates receiving IDPs Field Emergency Operation Rooms/cells have been activated supported by the Lebanon Red Cross (LRC) Disaster Risk Management teams to register displaced population and coordinate provision of assistance. Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) which plays a central role in overseeing the implementation of minimum standards and norms for humanitarian assistance in collective sites under the National Response Plan, deployed liaison officers to district and governorate levels to oversee the provision of assistance and coordinate assistance in collaboration with DRM teams.  

At the site level, focal points from MOSA, MEHE and other local and civil associations are supporting on site management ensuring proper space allocation of displaced families, supporting distributions, and site flow monitoring. However, the scale of displacement complicated by challenges such as limited governmental capacity to cover operational cost of collective sites, restricted mobilization capacities, understaffing issues, lack of institutional site management knowledge and capacity, and insufficient funding, have triggered the need for site management support.