Lebanon: Flash Update #51 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 19 December 2024
This report is produced by OCHA Lebanon in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Inter Sector Coordination Group. It covers the period from 13 – 19 December 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 828,978 people displaced within Lebanon reported back in their cadasters of origin as of 18 December (IOM).
- 165,428 people remain displaced outside their cadasters of origin, reflecting a 7 per cent decrease since 11 December (IOM).
- National and local authorities estimate some 90,000 people entering Lebanon from Syria as of 19 December (UNHCR).
- Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) launched $30.7 million emergency allocation to address urgent needs of conflict affected population.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Lebanon stands at a crossroads. The cessation of hostilities has allowed nearly 829,000 displaced people to return to their cadasters of origin as of 18 December, but for many, the journey back does not meet the minimum requirements for a secure and sustainable return. Communities’ resilience is under significant strain as basic needs remain unmet and safety is uncertain. Persistent insecurity, the risks of unexploded ordnance (UXO), and restricted access to part of southern Lebanon – exacerbated by continued restrictions imposed by the Israeli Army on civilians’ return to over 70 localities in southern Lebanon – pose additional obstacles for displaced populations attempting to return to their areas of origin in a safe and sustainable manner. Humanitarian partners continue to focus on addressing immediate needs and supporting early recovery efforts, such that no one is left behind in this fragile return process.
IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) indicates that as of 18 December, 828,978 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their cadasters of origin, with the largest returns of 244,681 people in El Nabatieh district, Nabatieh governorate (30 per cent), followed by 136,164 in Sour (Tyre) district, South governorate (16 per cent) and 131,613 in Baalbek district, Baalbek-El Hermel governorate (16 per cent). Meanwhile, 165,428 people remain displaced outside their cadasters of origin, which reflects a 7 per cent decrease since 11 December. Among them, 4,261 individuals (less than 3 per cent of all people remaining displaced) are residing in 48 collective shelters. Noting that the number of people reported as back in their cadasters of origin in the latest report is 8 per cent less than that reported on 11 December (Round 67). This can be attributed to several factors, including a more stable situation, better understanding of the context and figures among key informants, better enumeration capacity to capture returning people, as well as continuous review of the figures. The DTM methodology relies on key informant estimates, which, in a rapidly changing context, may not always reflect exact figures. However, these estimates offer a reliable indication of population movement trends.
A new report by REACH, based on data collected at the beginning of December (after the cessation of hostilities), shows that displaced people returning to heavily conflict-affected districts of Saida, Tyre, and Nabatieh have critical needs. Covering households that have begun to return as well as others that remain displaced, the report indicates that returning households encountered numerous challenges, such as acute water shortages, inconsistent electricity supply, and extensive damage to infrastructure. It identifies urgent needs in food security, education, mental health support, and the rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems. Access to essential services like healthcare and shelter has been severely restricted. Among other findings, the report indicates that, in Nabatieh, families with young children or elderly members were notably more likely to postpone their return in the face of ongoing risks. People with disabilities face increased hardships due to the destruction of facilities designed to accommodate their specific needs, further exacerbating their vulnerability. Key humanitarian priorities thus include shelter rehabilitation, livelihood recovery, and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
Cross-border movements from Syria into Lebanon continue to be reported and are exerting additional pressure on the situation and response. UNHCR reports that the national and local authorities in Lebanon have estimated around 90,000 people arriving from Syria [19 December], including an estimated 38,000 hosted in 159 informal collective shelters (mostly Syrians), 32,000 Syrians outside collective shelters and 20,000 Lebanese returnees from villages along the Syria/Lebanon border. Overstretched local authorities are struggling to meet basic needs, exacerbating the strain of pre-existing inter-communal tensions and heightening the risk of competition for scarce resources.
As of 17 December, several hundred Syrians were also estimated to be waiting to cross into Lebanon through Masnaa. About half of these met entry requirements and others turned back to Syria. Humanitarian partners have been providing relief support and remain on standby in the area to respond to the needs of those who may be stranded in the coming days.
Additionally, population movements from Lebanon to Syria continue at a low but steady pace through official border crossings of Masnaa and Qaa in Bekaa and Arida in the North, as well as reportedly by irregular means. As of last week, the number of Syrians returning to their country through official border crossing points stood at around 10,000 people.
