Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond have announced €3 million in humanitarian funding to assist people affected by the worsening crisis in Lebanon. The funding is intended to support urgent relief efforts for civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict, as the humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate.
The financial assistance will be directed to United Nations partners working on the ground to provide essential services to displaced communities. Approximately 700,000 people have already been forced to flee their homes due to the escalating violence, and humanitarian organisations expect this number to continue rising as the conflict intensifies.
Ireland’s contribution will help provide critical support such as shelter, food, sanitation and healthcare for those most affected. Of the total funding, €2 million will be allocated to the UN Lebanon Humanitarian Fund managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, while €1 million will be provided to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist displaced populations.
Government representatives highlighted the severe impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those already affected by previous crises. Many of the displaced individuals include refugees who had previously fled conflicts in countries such as Syria and Sudan and are now once again facing displacement due to the latest escalation of violence.
The announcement also reflects Ireland’s long-standing connection with Lebanon, strengthened through decades of Irish peacekeeping service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Irish troops have built close relationships with local communities over the years, creating enduring ties between the two countries. The newly announced funding is part of Ireland’s broader humanitarian support for Lebanon and complements ongoing assistance provided through UN agencies and non-governmental organisations working across the country.
