Beirut, 22 February 2025 – During his two-day visit to Lebanon, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Andrew Saberton met with the newly appointed Prime Minister for Lebanon, Nawaf Salam, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Rajji, and the First Lady of Lebanon, Neemat Aoun, in her capacity as President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW). Saberton also visited a UNFPA-supported primary healthcare center and safe space in Tyre, South Lebanon, where he met with women and girls impacted by the recent hostilities in Lebanon. Both facilities were damaged during the conflict and are currently being rehabilitated.
During his visit, Saberton congratulated the Prime Minister on the formation of a new government and expressed UNFPA’s readiness to support its reform, recovery, and reconstruction framework. This includes enhancing access to much-needed lifesaving reproductive health and protection services, while focusing on rehabilitating systems, strengthening local capacities, and implementing a coordinated strategy that ensures women, girls, and youth are at the center of an inclusive recovery process. In parallel, Saberton and the First Lady underscored the disproportionate impact of Lebanon’s multifaceted crises on women and girls, and the importance of continued collaboration to promote reforms that put women and girls at the center of the response, particularly those affected by displacement and economic instability. Saberton reiterated UNFPA’s longstanding partnership with the NCLW and its commitment in supporting its institutional capacity and strategic initiatives to “advance gender equality, restore critical services, and foster resilience with a focus on the needs of women, girls, and youth to promote peace and transformational development”.
For over 30 years, UNFPA has been a steadfast partner in Lebanon, working closely with the government, civil society, and other organizations to enhance the lives of the most vulnerable. UNFPA’s focus remains on delivering lifesaving services and empowering communities for a sustainable future, while ensuring no one is left behind.