United Nations: Aid covers 50% of the needs of refugees in Lebanon

ARK News… The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, denied granting fixed monthly salaries to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, in response to information published by Lebanese news sites claiming that Syrian refugees received aid worth 300 US dollars per month.

The UNHCR added that it does not provide comprehensive assistance to refugees, but rather provides assistance after assessing needs and based on vulnerabilities only, and only the most vulnerable refugees receive cash assistance.

She pointed out that the United Nations and its partners have reliable systems that identify the most vulnerable families, which are the families that receive direct aid, noting that families can receive several forms of aid, according to an assessment of their own situation and the availability of resources, and this is the procedure followed for the aid provided to the Lebanese, refugees, immigrants, and the homeless. Nationality and others.

It indicated that the aid provided to a refugee family that was classified as one of the most vulnerable is equal to or less than the aid provided to a Lebanese family, which in turn was classified as one of the most vulnerable.

Regarding the cash assistance provided, the Commission pointed out that the value of the monthly cash assistance provided to both Lebanese and refugees is much less than the minimum basic needs basket (SMEB) (to buy food, pay rent, pay medical fees, medicines, send children to school, etc. that). For refugees, the monthly amount covers less than 50% of the minimum of this basket of basic needs.

In its response to the claim that “cash assistance is an attractive factor for staying in Lebanon or fleeing to Lebanon,” the Commission confirmed that movements back and forth between Lebanon and Syria are rare, as the costs and risks surrounding cross-border movements in both directions, most of which are with the participation of smugglers, are high. To the point that the vast majority of Syrians do not resort to it, and the cost of these movements is much more than the monthly aid provided to the most vulnerable refugees.

It stressed that the United Nations continues to work with key actors to find long-term solutions for Syrian refugees, including the resettlement of refugees in third countries and the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees to Syria.

Lebanese media claimed, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, that the UNHCR is currently paying monthly salaries to 850,000 displaced people registered on its lists, in addition to generous aid that makes the displaced cling to staying in Lebanon, and that it is giving refugees arriving in the recent wave of “exodus” $10 per day. The equivalent of $300 per month, and a total of $270 million per month, benefiting - according to the claim - about 900,000 unregistered displaced people.

381