Beirut, – One year after the Beirut Port Explosion, the economic situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate sharply, leaving an estimate of 120,000 migrants as well and Lebanese communities in pressing need for humanitarian assistance, said IOM in Lebanon.

To address the growing needs of the most vulnerable among the Lebanese and migrants affected by the crisis, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) together with other United Nations agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have today launched a coordinated, multi-sectoral Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for Lebanon.

The ERP seeks to mobilize USD 378.5 million to provide life-saving support to 1.1 million most vulnerable people among Lebanese and migrants affected by the ongoing crisis. The ERP will complement the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), which specifically addresses the evolving impact of the Syria crisis in Lebanon. The 12-month ERP aims to provide humanitarian assistance to thousands of vulnerable migrants and Lebanese nationals alike.

“More and more migrants are reaching out to IOM for help. They have lost their jobs. They are hungry, they cannot access medical care, and feel unsafe. Many are so desperate that they want to leave the country, but they do not have the means to do so”, said Mathieu Luciano, Head of IOM in Lebanon.  “There is a clear need to rapidly scale up IOM’s emergency programmes, including voluntary humanitarian return”, he added.

The Emergency appeal for funding will support the provision of a range of critical assistance including health, food security, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, child protection and gender-based violence.  The ERP also includes a multi-sector migrant chapter, which was coordinated by IOM.

Recent IOM research showed that many migrants have lost their jobs and livelihoods due to the impact of concurrent crises. They are struggling to eat, pay rent, and access healthcare and vital services.

Over 50 per cent of the migrants recently surveyed by IOM reported inability to meet food needs. Some female migrants reported resorting to degrading, exploitative, dangerous, or illegal work to meet their basic food needs.

Exploitative practices such as non-payment of wages, unfair dismissal, or breach of contracts by employers, have increased, subjecting migrants to greater hardship.

IOM research also showed that many migrants hoped to return to their countries of origin, with nearly half of all surveyed migrants confirming their willingness to return home. Embassies have also witnessed a sharp rise in the number of migrants asking to go back home, but with no means to do so. Stranded migrants are typically homeless, without work, and reliant on basic humanitarian and protection support to survive.

“The response plan launched today turns the spotlight on the dire situation of many Lebanese and migrants, who can no longer afford to buy food nor access basic services”, said Jeff Labovitz, Director of IOM’s Emergency Department in Geneva. “We call on the donor community to generously support this emergency response plan”.

Lebanon is a country of destination for migrants, particularly female migrant workers employed in the domestic sector. According to IOM, the country currently hosts 210,000 migrants, mainly from Eastern Africa, Northern Africa, and South Asia.

The ERP is available online: https://bit.ly/3fz4V8Q

For more information, please contact:  Mohammedali Abunajela, at IOM Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, mmabunajela@iom.int