The escalation of hostilities in Lebanon has forced tens of thousands of families to flee their homes to seek safety – both in collective shelters within the country and across the border in neighbouring Syria.

Hospitals in Lebanon, where pregnant women would ordinarily go to deliver safely, have been forced to evacuate, and those that remain open are overwhelmed with injured patients. Many other health facilities have also shuttered, leaving women without access to essential care.

Shelters inside Lebanon are overcrowded and under resourced, increasing women and girls’ vulnerability to gender-based violence and leaving them deprived of safe drinking water, latrines, washrooms and sanitary pads.

UNFPA has scaled up its response in Lebanon. We are providing critical reproductive health supplies and equipment to hard-hit health facilities and hospitals, and are deploying mobile health teams to shelters. We are also working with partners to strengthen services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. Thousands of hygiene and dignity kits have been distributed to women and girls in need. 

UNFPA echoes calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges parties in the region to uphold international law, including the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel as well as civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools and hospitals.

Updated on 1 November 2024