PRESS RELEASE : UK provides essential humanitarian supplies to civilians in Lebanon as the situation deteriorates [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 September 2024.

Government re-opens portal for British nationals in Lebanon to register their presence following deployment.

• government re-opens portal for British nationals in Lebanon to register their presence
• follows deployment of military, Border Force and Foreign office officials to Cyprus to support contingency planning
• £5 million humanitarian package will support thousands of people who have been displaced or forced to flee

The UK is sending £5 million to Lebanon to support humanitarian response efforts, where the United Nations [UNICEF] will distribute supplies to those in need.

It comes as the UK also re-opens the register your presence service to support British nationals and provide vital updates.

The UK has been calling for British nationals to leave Lebanon since October 2023. Yesterday, 700 troops, alongside Border Force and Foreign Office officials, also deployed to Cyprus to continue contingency planning for a range of scenarios in the region.

The essential humanitarian support comes after further civilian casualties following air strikes in recent hours. Thousands more have been displaced or forced to flee their homes.

The package includes essential medical supplies, hygiene kits and fuel for water stations, to help thousands of displaced civilians across Lebanon meet their basic needs.

It will also help emergency teams respond to urgent health and nutrition needs, and provide a series of training sessions for key delivery partners and frontline workers to ensure an effective emergency response.

Anneliese Dodds, Minister of State for Development and Minister of State for Women and Equalities, said:

The situation in Lebanon is deeply concerning. While we continue to urge British nationals to leave and have launched our ‘register your presence’ portal to aid their departure, the UK will always be a strong supporter of the Lebanese people. That is why we are providing £5 million to UNICEF to support civilians who have been displaced and are facing a humanitarian emergency.

We need to see an immediate ceasefire from both sides to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure that displaced people can return to their homes.

At UNGA this week the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah when he met G7 ministers. The UK was the first G7 country to call for an immediate ceasefire. The Foreign Secretary will deliver the UK’s intervention at the UN Security Council session on Lebanon.

Flights from Beirut continue to run, and British nationals should depart on the first available carrier.

The military teams have joined the already significant UK diplomatic and military footprint in the region, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Royal Navy ships RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan, which have remained in the eastern Mediterranean to support British nationals and allies over the summer.

The Royal Air Force also have aircraft and transport helicopters on standby to provide support if necessary.

Background

• today’s funding announcement comes from pre-existing Official Development Assistance budgets and is already accounted for
• the UK is committed to supporting the most vulnerable in Lebanon, including refugees and Lebanese communities, with timely, flexible assistance to address basic needs and reduce suffering
• the UK’s bilateral humanitarian support to Lebanon this financial year (up to £21 million through the Lebanon Humanitarian Programme, including this £5 million for UNICEF) is focussed on:
  • supporting the most vulnerable refugee and Lebanese communities to meet their basic needs
  • providing essential education and child protection services to over 5,000 of the most vulnerable and marginalised out of school children and
  • supporting the Government of Lebanon to develop more inclusive, sustainable, and accountable social protection systems
• through the Lebanon Humanitarian Programme, the UK is one of the largest donors to OCHA’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund which has allocated $14.7 million to a range of non-governmental organisations for preparedness and response to displacement
• earlier this year, a Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation of $9 million was released to support UN partners response to the rising needs in Southern Lebanon. The UK is one of the largest donors to the CERF globally
• $2.2 million Education Cannot Wait (ECW) funding has been released to support 5,000 children affected by the crisis. The UK is the second largest donor to ECW