Al-Sayyed: The Scale of Needs Requires Expanding the Scope of Solidarity and Support

A group of international and local non-governmental humanitarian organizations operating in Lebanon launched a global fundraising campaign, aimed at supporting families across Lebanon and helping them face the accumulated repercussions of conflict, displacement, and the economic crisis, under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Affairs and facilitated by the International Organization for Migration.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Al-Sayyed, considered that "the humanitarian emergency facing Lebanon requires a swift and coordinated response that preserves people's dignity and effectively meets their needs. The Ministry of Social Affairs has played a pivotal role in leading this response, including through the Social Safety Net Shock-Response Program, which is the national emergency cash assistance mechanism that has so far reached more than 140,000 displaced families. However, the scale of needs requires expanding the scope of solidarity and support."

She pointed out that "this international coalition brings together Lebanese communities abroad, international supporters, and civil society organizations around a shared responsibility of supporting families affected by war and displacement. The 'Rooted for Lebanon' initiative represents an important tributary to national efforts, by contributing to resource mobilization and directing support where it is most needed."

According to a statement by the International Organization for Migration, "Lebanon continues to face successive crises. At a time when the country is still trying to recover from a prolonged economic and financial crisis, recent hostilities have exacerbated the fragility of livelihoods, led to the displacement of families, and disrupted daily life. Even in homes that have not suffered direct damage, families still face increasing difficulties in securing their basic needs, restoring their sources of income, and regaining a measure of stability."

For his part, the Head of the International Organization for Migration Office in Lebanon, Matteo Luciano, noted that "cash assistance gives families the flexibility to set their priorities according to their actual needs. Whether it concerns food, medicine, housing costs, or transportation, families are best able to assess their most urgent needs. By providing this type of support, we contribute to enhancing their decision-making capacity and helping them restore the foundations of stability."