Lebanon Faces Crisis: UN Calls for $325M Aid as War Forces Hundreds of Thousands to Leave Homes

The United Nations has launched a new appeal for $325 million to support Lebanon, which is grappling with the fallout from a recent conflict that has displaced more than 800, 000 people. The appeal was announced by Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres in Beirut, urging that words of support be matched with concrete action. The conflict began when Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah after the group fired on Israeli forces in early March, claiming it was avenging a high‑profile Iranian target. Since then, Hezbollah has carried out daily rocket and drone attacks while Israel has intensified ground operations and air strikes. The capital, Beirut, was bombed on Thursday and other areas were hit on Friday, leading to nearly 700 deaths and widespread displacement. Aid agencies say the current funding environment is very tight. The World Food Programme (WFP) has already had to ration supplies because donations are scarce, and it warns that without new contributions, many people will soon face starvation. The WFP’s deputy executive director highlighted that there is no margin left; resources must increase as needs rise.Other humanitarian groups echo this warning. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, received only a quarter of the funds it needs for 2025 and has cut cash assistance programs. Medair’s country director noted that rising global energy prices, sparked by the Iran war, are tightening donor budgets further. Solidarités International reported a decline in both grant amounts and the number of donors, adding that their emergency response could collapse in a few weeks without fresh funding. These crises build on Lebanon’s earlier hardships: an economic collapse in 2019, a devastating port explosion in 2020, and now the ongoing war. The combined effect has left the country in a precarious position, with humanitarian aid stretched to its limits. The UN’s appeal seeks to bridge this gap and prevent a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.