Germany Adds €5 Million to Support the Lebanese Army

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced in a statement that "the German government has provided an additional contribution of 5 million euros to the UNDP to support the Lebanese Army and enhance its capacity to contribute to stability and recovery efforts in Lebanon, raising the total German support provided to the army through this program to 10 million euros. The new funding will be allocated to improving the living conditions of Lebanese Army personnel and their families by providing support in areas such as food, healthcare, education, and housing, alongside supplying the army with necessary equipment for debris removal and explosive ordnance disposal, thereby supporting recovery efforts in conflict-affected areas."

It stated: "This non-military support will continue until 2028 to help personnel meet their basic needs and strengthen the Lebanese Army's ability to facilitate safe access to affected areas and support recovery efforts there."

It added: "This contribution comes at a time when the responsibilities of the Lebanese Army are increasing in extending state authority, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), amidst ongoing financial pressures facing the military institution since 2019. The escalation of hostilities in March 2026 led to the displacement of more than 50,000 Lebanese Army personnel and their family members, amid uncertainty regarding their return. This coincides with a transitional phase in Lebanon following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2790 (2025) terminating the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)."

It continued: "In this context, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the UNDP, Abdallah Dardari, said: 'The continuation of German support sends a strong message of solidarity with Lebanon during a critical transitional phase. The Lebanese Army, which enjoys the trust of various parties across the country's complex political spectrum, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Lebanon's recovery path.'"

It said: "Germany has supported the project 'Enhancing the Role of the Lebanese Army and Expanding Its Participation Through Supporting the Livelihood System for Military Personnel' since its launch in December 2024, where its initial contribution of 5 million euros helped ensure the availability of essential food items at subsidized prices in the 144 'Soldier Houses' cooperatives affiliated with the Lebanese Army, alongside introducing an electronic point-of-sale system across these cooperatives."

The project provides "an integrated framework for delivering non-military support to the Lebanese Army, aiming to improve the living conditions of approximately 81,500 military personnel and their families. It also supports Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities implemented by the Lebanese Army, enhancing communication with local communities and trust in state institutions."

The UNDP implements the project "under a memorandum of understanding with the Lebanese Ministry of National Defense and the Office of the Special Coordinator for the United Nations in Lebanon, with contributions from Germany, the European Union, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, and Japan. The program links security and stability support with broader recovery efforts in Lebanon."

The new German contribution is provided "through the UNDP financing mechanism dedicated to governance, peacebuilding, crises, and resilience. Through the same financing mechanism, Germany has separately provided more than 6 million euros to support the stabilization response mechanism, which aids in achieving stability and restoring essential services."