Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2025

CRP last updated: March 05 2025
$142,310,000
Funding required
507,780
People Targeted
185
Entities targeted

IOM aims to support and protect the most vulnerable individuals across Lebanon, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants, refugees, and local community members, against mounting humanitarian needs and socioeconomic hardship stemming from conflict and multidimensional crises. To address the complex mobility dynamics within this crisis, IOM will focus on providing life-saving humanitarian and protection assistance, building community resilience against rising tensions, and working to promote regular, dignified and safe migration, through proactive measures across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

A displaced woman in an informal shelter in Beirut. © IOM Lebanon 2024 / Elie Dargham

INFORM Risk 

5.5, High 

INFORM Severity 

4.2, Very high 

Human Development Index 

109 of 193 

Since 2019, Lebanon has been grappling with complex and multifaceted crises, further compounded by the escalation in conflict in September 2024 following increased hostilities across the southern border since October 2023. According to the World Bank, Lebanon's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth was cut by an estimated 6.6 per cent in 2024 as a result of the conflict, with economic losses estimated at USD 5.1 billion, bringing the cumulative decline in real GDP since 2019 to more than 38 per cent by the end of the year. The complex multi-faceted crisis has strained Lebanon’s institutions, infrastructure, and economy, leading to rising poverty and a collapse of public services, disproportionally affecting vulnerable Lebanese and other groups, including the 1.5 million Syrian refugee population  and approximately 176,504 migrants, 70 per cent of whom are women.

At the height of the conflict escalation in October 2024, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identified an estimated 899,725 IDPs across Lebanon, many in urgent need of food, shelter, water, sanitation, and protection. Migrants and refugees are among the vulnerable internally displaced who face heightened protection risks, such as gender-based violence (GBV), loss of legal documentation and livelihood means, worsening their physical and psychosocial well-being. Women and girls, in particular, are at greater risk of exploitation and violence, while displaced children and the elderly experience limited access to essential services, heightening their vulnerabilities and exacerbating their suffering.

As a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), IOM fosters robust coordination with partner agencies, including UN agencies, international and local organizations, civil society and government stakeholders, avoiding duplication of efforts and promoting synergy across all sectors to maximize the impact of humanitarian interventions. IOM participates in key humanitarian coordination mechanisms at both national and sub-national levels within the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP). IOM co-chairs the Site Management and Coordination Sector and coordinates migrant assistance within the Migrant Working Group under the Protection Sector. In addition, IOM is an active member of the Protection; Shelter; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Stabilization; Livelihoods and Health Sectors, as well as the Durable Solutions Working Group and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Working Group/Task Force. IOM also co-leads the Protection Mainstreaming Task Force and is part of the Protection Core Working Group within the Protection Sector, where agencies discuss strategic priorities and technical guidance. Age, gender, and diversity are integrated into all discussions. Recognizing the urgency of addressing GBV in the ongoing humanitarian crisis, IOM actively participates in the monthly GBV Working Group to focus on prevention, response and awareness. Furthermore, IOM works closely with the Government of Lebanon, the Humanitarian Coordinator, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and partners within the LRP coordination structure, to support the overall response. 

IOM maintains strong partnerships with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, the Disaster Risk Management Unit (DRM) under the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Public Health, the Lebanese Armed Forces and local municipalities. These collaborations ensure a coordinated and effective approach to addressing humanitarian and socio-economic needs.

IOM, in its role as the lead of the Migrant Working Group, collaborates closely with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) through the UN Network on Migration to tackle migration challenges and optimize the benefits of migration in Lebanon. Their efforts aim to integrate migration and displacement into Lebanon’s development frameworks, such as the LRP an

IOM Lebanon demonstrates strong implementation capacity, supported by its institutional experience as the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and in-country presence. Established in 2006, IOM Lebanon has a proven record of providing frontline services to crisis-affected populations, while advancing models and partnerships for longer-term recovery and migration governance. The Lebanon Mission currently employs IOM staff, consultants and daily workers with offices in Beirut, North Lebanon (Tripoli) and the Beqaa Valley (Chtoura) supporting IOM’s nationwide programming. IOM DTM also has a network of 50 enumerators and 1,500 key informants contributing to nationwide data collection on mobility in partnership with the national Disaster Risk Management Unit. IOM operates across all frameworks, supporting diverse populations in Lebanon, and has experience in emergency response across the country, ensuring an inclusive approach. With a strong focus on gender-responsive programming, IOM also strengthens capacity to meaningfully engage with women and girls, ensuring their voices, needs, and leadership are integral to humanitarian and development efforts. In close coordination with OCHA, IOM is well-positioned to play a leading role in addressing the evolving needs of remaining IDPs, host communities, returning IDPs and other vulnerable populations in the country.  

IOM Lebanon’s crisis response activities are comprehensive and structured around eight priority areas where IOM has proven implementation capacity: 

  1. Emergency response and basic assistance, including providing core relief items, cash support, and delivering protection services. 
  2. Shelter and camp coordination and management, including delivering emergency shelter kits and materials, WASH support and supporting coordination as co-lead of the Site Management and Coordination Sector.
  3. Health, including primary and secondary healthcare such as transportation assistance and advanced healthcare coverage, medical consultation, pre-departure screening, specialized services, and diaspora engagement.
  4. Data and research, including displacement tracking, migrant presence and protection monitoring, multi-sectoral needs assessments and irregular migration research.
  5. Provision of protection services to crisis-affected populations including case management, legal services, cash for protection, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).

IOM works closely with the Government of Lebanon to deliver critical support to those most in need and help steer national efforts back onto a sustainable development path. Specifically, IOM will contribute to: (i) addressing the immediate humanitarian and protection needs of the most vulnerable populations in Lebanon; (ii) building resilience among people on the move and host communities, particularly those in vulnerable situations; and (iii) strengthening Lebanese institutions and systems to foster effective migration governance. In 2025, IOM will continue to promote intra- and inter-sectoral collaboration with the government at the local, national, and regional levels. These efforts aim to support timely and coordinated emergency response initiatives across Lebanon. Key partners include the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Public Health, among other Ministries. IOM also participates in the government’s coordination platform, overseen by the Prime Minister's Office, and is a member of the Emergency Operations Cells established by the Ministry of Public Health. IOM’s emergency response is underpinned by well-established coordination with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, the DRM under the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Public Health, the Lebanese Armed Forces and local municipalities. In addition, IOM collaborates with the General Security Directorate, municipalities, local stakeholders and the Ministry of Public Health to strengthen emergency response capacity in relation to disease surveillance, search and rescue, and disasters.

Key Operating Modalities
Participation and empowerment Conflict sensitivity Integrated Programming Collaboration and partnership Localization Cash-based interventions
Cross-cutting priorities
Data and evidence Protection Mainstreaming Gender Equality Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Disaster Risk Climate Change Law and policy

IOM Lebanon's localization approach focuses on strengthening the capacity of local actors to lead and manage humanitarian responses, ensuring that support is more relevant, effective, and sustainable. By partnering with local government, including at district and municipality level, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations, IOM aims to empower Lebanese institutions and communities to take ownership of crisis response and recovery efforts. This approach enhances local resilience, supports the integration of displaced and migrant populations, and fosters long-term solutions tailored to the needs of affected communities. IOM will also ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable, promoting the sustainability of interventions beyond immediate humanitarian aid. 

As the lead agency in the Migrant Working Group, and co-lead of the Site Management and Site Coordination Sector, IOM also encourages local partners to participate and lead the response in close coordination with the Sector.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$63,625,463
Funding required
267,780
People Targeted
144
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
Internal migrant
Refugee
International migrant

Through comprehensive multisectoral humanitarian interventions, IOM aims to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and uphold the dignity of IDPs, migrants, refugees, and host communities. This support will be implemented through the provision of a range of short-term emergency interventions including: provision of core relief items, WASH, health, shelter, protection (including GBV risk mitigation), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), early recovery, cash-based support and movement assistance through the evacuation of stranded migrants to areas of safety and countries of origin to ensure their immediate safety and well-being. Through these efforts, IOM seeks to reduce threats and vulnerabilities while reinforcing community resilience. In addition, IOM will contribute to enhancing the broader quality of humanitarian assistance through coordination efforts in its role in Site Management and Coordination and support evidence-based responses through IOM’s DTM, which produces and disseminates critical multi-layered information on the mobility, vulnerabilities, and needs of displaced populations, enabling decision-makers and responders to provide more context-specific assistance. IOM will also enhance humanitarian border management by addressing transnational crimes, protecting migrants, and strengthening government capacities in search-and-rescue operations and migration governance.

Objective 2 - Driving solutions to displacement
Driving solutions to displacement

$55,434,537
Funding required
308,237
People Targeted
33
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
Refugee
International migrant

IOM Lebanon aims to build the resilience of crisis-affected populations, including displaced populations as a result of the conflict. Key interventions focus on community stabilization, peacebuilding, debris removal and reconstruction, as well as disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, protection, and MHPSS activities. IOM promotes sustainable solutions to displacement and addresses its underlying drivers, by promoting self-reliance, addressing barriers to services, and expanding livelihoods opportunities through business grants, cash-for-work programmes, and vocational skills training. To enhance stabilization, IOM collaborates with municipalities, local businesses, schools, government ministries, social development centres, and healthcare facilities, as well as engaging with diaspora networks with the aim of strengthening local governance, improving public infrastructure, and fostering social cohesion. To strengthen community preparedness and resilience against disasters, IOM Lebanon will improve the evidence base and enhance local capacity to minimize, avert and address disaster risks and impacts of climate change. Recognizing that empowered communities are key to resilience, IOM will focus on climate adaptation planning, identifying sustainable livelihoods and promoting economic independence through job creation, skill development, and market-driven livelihood opportunities. To scale up support for safe, dignified, and voluntary return movements to Syria and promote durable solutions, IOM stands ready to provide movement assistance for affected populations considering voluntary return, in alignment with the Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan. A community-based approach remains central to all IOM interventions, ensuring that stabilization efforts are inclusive, sustainable, and tailored to the needs of affected populations.  To maximize impact, IOM ensures that local community planning and programming are closely aligned with national development plans and sector strategies, promoting a cohesive and sustainable approach to displacement. 

In addition, IOM will implement a conflict-sensitive approach, prioritizing the most vulnerable populations and ensuring positive outcomes while adhering to the principle of Do-No-Harm.

Facilitating pathways for regular migration
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

$23,250,000
Funding required
9,200
People Targeted
72
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Local population / community

IOM is committed to maximizing the benefits of migration by supporting the development of well-managed and well-governed migration policies and services at both national and local levels, fostering long-term recovery and strengthening migration governance, through a whole-of-government approach. Addressing the mobility dimensions of crisis is a critical component of good migration governance. IOM Lebanon focuses on supporting vulnerable populations through long-term protection solutions such as assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) for stranded migrants, in line with relevant institutional guidelines. Recognizing instability as a driver of irregular migration, IOM will expand access to regular pathways through strengthening labour migration opportunities, skills development, job matching, vocational training and migration planning. This will be complemented by the promotion of ethical recruitment practices for both government and private sectors, along with close collaboration with government officials on migration governance, legal frameworks, and best practices for managing regular migration pathways. IOM further aims to expand these regular migration channels for Lebanese nationals, particularly by linking Lebanese youth to safe, regular migration opportunities, such as talent visas, and university scholarships. IOM also focuses on capacity-strengthening for frontline workers to address the psychosocial needs of vulnerable migrants, integrating MHPSS services into reintegration processes. IOM also strengthens health initiatives such as the National Tuberculosis and AIDS control programmes and engages with the Ministry of Public Health to enhance diaspora outreach. 

Objective 1
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
$63,625,463
Funding required
[{"name":"Human suffering is alleviated","y":35},{"name":"Threats and vulnerabilities are reduced","y":35},{"name":"The quality of humanitarian assistance is enhanced","y":30}]
Objective 2
Driving solutions to displacement
$55,434,537
Funding required
[{"name":"Adverse drivers of displacement are minimized","y":30},{"name":"Displaced people are resilient and self-reliant","y":40},{"name":"Displaced people benefit from solutions","y":30}]
Objective 3
Facilitating pathways for regular migration
$23,250,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Channels for regular migration are sustainable and responsive","y":30},{"name":"Migration flows and cross-border mobility are well managed","y":30},{"name":"Migration policy and legal frameworks are aligned with international standards","y":20},{"name":"Migrants are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse","y":20}]

Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.

$4,149,000
Funding required
Related inter agency plans
(R)RRP FA UNSDCF

IOM is committed to ensuring a do-no-harm approach, prioritizing the safety and well-being of affected populations across operations. IOM adopts a conflict-sensitive approach to all stages of programming and mainstreams protection measures to mitigate potential harm. In addition, IOM emphasizes gender equality, protection of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), GBV risk mitigation and child protection mainstreaming considerations across all operations to uphold the rights and dignity of those it serves. To do this, IOM will engage protection, PSEA and GBV experts, as well as service providers, to ensure that humanitarian, recovery, peacebuilding and development interventions are planned and delivered safely. These efforts will be coordinated with the Protection Sector and led by IOM’s PSEA and accountability to affected populations (AAP) staff. IOM will also promote accountability by enabling communities to access complaints and feedback mechanisms, participate actively and engage in decision-making about assistance and services, and receive timely and relevant information.

$4,149,000
Funding required
[["Saving lives",50],["Solutions to displacement",33],["Pathways for regular migration",17]]
IOM team deliver blankets to people displaced by the conflict in Lebanon. © IOM Lebanon 2024
IOM team deliver blankets to people displaced by the conflict in Lebanon. © IOM Lebanon 2024
Data for action, insight and foresight     Priority
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Health     Priority
$16,410,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA RMRP UNSDCF
Protection     Priority
$14,900,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA RMRP UNSDCF
Movement assistance    
$10,275,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Mental health and psychosocial support    
$14,340,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA RMRP UNSDCF
Shelter and settlements     Priority
$27,390,600 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA RMRP UNSDCF
Water, sanitation and hygiene    
$5,137,400 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA RMRP UNSDCF
Camp coordination and camp management    
$5,400,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Disaster risk management    
$2,500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Livelihoods and economic recovery     Priority
$12,610,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Community stabilization and community-driven development    
$10,700,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Land and property    
$4,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction    
$3,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Regular pathways    
$6,588,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA
Humanitarian border management and search and rescue    
$2,910,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans FA UNSDCF
Operational presence in

Lebanon

40
International staff and affiliated work force
458
National staff and affiliated work force
3
IOM field office

 

The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Figures are as of November 2024. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.