BEIRUT, 16 December 2022 – As the worst economic crisis in decades is dramatically deteriorating living conditions in Lebanon, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) call for sustained support and protection for vulnerable families in the country.
The preliminary findings of the 2022 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR), released today, show a continuing sharp decline in living conditions for all Syrian refugees, with even the most basic needs being out of reach for most. Ninety per cent of Syrian refugee families are in need of humanitarian assistance to survive.
One of the most concerning findings of the assessment is food insecurity among Syrian refugee households in Lebanon.
“The levels of food security for refugees in Lebanon are extremely worrisome,” said Abdallah AlWardat, WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon. “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, WFP is supporting 1 in every 3 people in the country. We are providing cash assistance, food parcels and school snacks, and supporting livelihoods activities across Lebanon.”
The 2022 VASyR revealed that Syrian refugees are cutting down on meals; adults are eating less to allow their children to eat and are reducing expenditures on health and education to prioritize buying food. Most refugee families have accumulated high debt, with the majority borrowing money to buy food. Almost 87 per cent of families listed food as their main priority followed by housing and healthcare.
“Despite the price of essential items and services skyrocketing by over 700 per cent since June 2020, families in Lebanon still earn less while having to pay much more for the most basic goods. UNHCR and partners continue to support the most vulnerable refugees with humanitarian assistance. UNHCR also supports public institutions, including hospitals and municipalities,” said Ayaki Ito, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon. “But this is far from enough. More help for vulnerable refugees and Lebanese families is urgently needed, including support to Lebanese institutions to provide sustained basic services”.
Syrian refugee children and adolescents are affected the most. The assessment showed that 60 per cent of Syrian refugee children between the ages of 6 and 14 were attending school regularly in 2022, with the rate dropping to 8 per cent attendance for the older adolescents at upper secondary school level. Additionally, children’s nutrition is at stake, with less than half of infants under five months of age being exclusively breastfed, and only 11 per cent meeting the minimum number of meals and food groups per day. Six out of 10 Syrian refugee boys and girls experienced violent disciplinary methods.
“Children and adolescents are the most affected by the escalating crisis – with deepening inequality and discrimination – especially amongst vulnerable groups. Children are growing without enough food, without proper access to healthcare and education,” said UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Edouard Beigbeder. “Concerted action is needed to protect them and ensure they can reach their full potential.”
While VASyR studies vulnerabilities among Syrian refugees in particular, Lebanese are also struggling to cope. The United Nations will continue to work together with the government and partners to provide much-needed lifesaving support to all vulnerable communities and people in Lebanon.
About VASyR
The Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR) was conducted jointly by UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF.
VASyR 2022 is the tenth annual survey assessing the situation of a representative sample of 5,090 Syrian refugee households, including 25,381 individuals, covering all districts across Lebanon. VASyR aims to generate estimates on the situation of Syrian refugee women, men, boys, and girls. VASyR is pivotal for humanitarian and development programming in Lebanon.
While the challenges in Lebanon continue to affect all population groups and communities in the country, VASyR 2022 findings provide information on the current vulnerabilities among Syrian refugees and impact of the compounded crises on Syrian refugee households specifically.
In 2022, there has been a further deterioration in the socio-economic situation in Lebanon, coupled with continued inflation and increased devaluation of the LBP, with the informal exchange rate at some point reaching over LBP 40,000 per USD, double the peak in 2021.
The situation in Lebanon affects all populations living in the country – Lebanese, refugees, and migrants. While VASyR looks at the Syrian refugee population specifically, the United Nations and partners are working to analyze the situation of vulnerable Lebanese and continue providing lifesaving assistance to vulnerable Lebanese communities to help them cope with the increasing challenges.
Full report: https://ialebanon.unhcr.org/vasyr/#/
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR works closely with the Government of Lebanon and numerous other national and international partners in providing protection and assistance to refugees and stateless persons, as well as Lebanese communities.
For more information about UNHCR’s work in Lebanon, please visit: https://www.unhcr.org/lb/
About WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. In Lebanon, WFP in close collaboration with its partners is the largest provider of direct food and non-food assistance to refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities.
About UNICEF
Working in Lebanon for over 70 years, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and our work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lebanon/