An international coalition of humanitarian organizations has launched a global fundraising campaign aimed at helping vulnerable families across Lebanon recover from the combined impacts of conflict, displacement and a prolonged economic crisis that continues to strain communities across the country.
The initiative, known as “Rooted for Lebanon,” is being implemented under the auspices of Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs and facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The launch comes at a time when Lebanon remains mired in multiple overlapping crises. Years of economic decline, financial instability and social hardship have left millions of people facing increasing uncertainty.
More recently, renewed hostilities and insecurity have deepened existing vulnerabilities, forcing families from their homes, disrupting livelihoods and placing additional pressure on already fragile public services.
Officials involved in the initiative explained that the campaign is designed to complement national recovery efforts while expanding the reach of humanitarian assistance to those most affected by displacement and economic hardship.
According to Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayed, “Lebanon’s humanitarian emergency calls for a response that is fast, coordinated, and rooted in dignity,”
“The Ministry of Social Affairs has been leading this effort, including through the Shock-Responsive Safety Net, our national emergency cash assistance mechanism, which has already reached more than 140,000 displaced households. But the scale of need requires broader solidarity.”
Haneen Sayed
Haneen Sayed emphasized that while government-led programmes have provided critical support to affected communities, the magnitude of the crisis requires a wider international response and stronger partnerships across humanitarian sectors.
“This global alliance brings together Lebanese diaspora communities, international supporters, and civil society organizations around a shared responsibility: to stand with families affected by war and displacement. Rooted for Lebanon is an important complement to national efforts, helping mobilize support where it is needed most.”
Haneen Sayed
Global Campaign Targets Lebanon’s Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Lebanon has faced a succession of economic and humanitarian shocks over recent years. The country’s financial crisis, widely regarded as one of the most severe in modern history, has significantly eroded purchasing power, increased poverty levels and reduced access to essential services.
At the same time, conflict-related displacement has left thousands of families struggling to meet basic needs.
Humanitarian agencies note that even households that have not been directly displaced continue to experience serious difficulties. Many families are grappling with rising living costs, declining incomes and limited employment opportunities, while attempting to restore a sense of normalcy amid ongoing uncertainty.
Against this backdrop, the new campaign will focus heavily on cash assistance programmes, which aid organizations view as one of the most effective ways of helping vulnerable households respond to their immediate needs.
Mathieu Luciano, IOM Lebanon Head of Office, noted that, “cash assistance allows families the flexibility to prioritize what matters most.”
Whether it is food, medicine, shelter costs, or transportation, households know what their greatest needs are. By providing cash support, we are reinforcing agency and helping families strengthen their foundation to regain stability.”
Mathieu Luciano
Humanitarian experts increasingly regard cash-based interventions as a critical tool during complex emergencies because they allow recipients to make decisions based on their own circumstances while also supporting local markets and businesses.
The alliance behind the campaign brings together a broad network of humanitarian actors operating across Lebanon. Participating organizations include Save the Children Lebanon, World Vision in Lebanon, Care International in Lebanon, Himaya Daeem Aataa and the Danish Refugee Council.
Organizers indicated that, the partnership is intended to maximize efficiency and ensure that resources reach communities most in need through established humanitarian coordination systems. Assistance distributed through the initiative will be delivered using existing United Nations-led mechanisms and community-based approaches that have been developed over years of humanitarian operations in Lebanon.
Another key component of the programme is the use of national registries and partner assessments to identify vulnerable households. This approach is designed to ensure that support is targeted toward families facing the greatest levels of hardship, while reducing duplication and improving accountability.
The campaign also seeks to strengthen links between humanitarian relief and longer-term recovery efforts. By helping families meet immediate needs such as food, healthcare, housing and transportation costs, aid organizations hope to create conditions that enable communities to gradually rebuild livelihoods and regain economic stability.
Supporters of the initiative argue that Lebanon’s recovery will require sustained international engagement, particularly as humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources.
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