The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports a sharp rise in people crossing from Lebanon into Syria, with over 200,000 arriving between 2 and 27 March. Nearly 180,000 of these are Syrians, including those who had previously fled to Lebanon and are now forced to flee again, while more than 28,000 are Lebanese. Many arrive exhausted, traumatized, and with very few belongings, as civilians seek safety from intense Israeli bombardments. UNHCR is preparing for up to 350,000 arrivals depending on how the conflict develops.
The humanitarian situation is compounded by disruptions in supply chains across the Middle East following Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran, which have sparked wider regional instability. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is particularly affected, with 70,000 metric tonnes of food impacted by delayed shipments. Some cargo is stuck in ports, while others are en route, and rerouting has added significant time and costs to deliveries. Shipping costs have surged due to detours around the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal, with fuel price increases further straining resources.
WFP has negotiated waivers on surcharges from shipping lines and ports at risk in the Middle East, saving about $1.5 million, and is prioritizing cargo for humanitarian operations. The agency is also rerouting aid to countries like Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, and South Sudan, where disruptions are delaying critical food deliveries to millions of food-insecure people. The combination of longer transport times, higher costs, and insufficient financing is leaving humanitarian operations vulnerable, with limited buffer stocks and urgent needs in famine-affected areas.
WFP officials stress that the delays and rising costs threaten the timely delivery of aid, particularly in Sudan, where millions face acute hunger. The agency emphasizes that without immediate action, current pipelines and operations cannot absorb the additional strain caused by regional conflicts and supply chain disruptions.
