UN announces $383 million humanitarian plan to ease 'living nightmare' in Lebanon

The United Nations and other humanitarian partners announced a $383 million aid plan for Lebanon on Friday to provide life-saving assistance to the country. 

The Emergency Response Plan (ERR) will protect roughly 1.1 million citizens and migrants over the next year after the country has faced economic and political turmoil on top of the harsh impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"More and more Lebanese households are unable to afford basic expenses like food, health, electricity, water, internet, fuel and education. For the most vulnerable among the poor, the impact is extremely devastating, and surviving has become their only goal," the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Najat Rochdi said at the launch in Beirut. 

Lebanon was considered a high middle-income country only a year ago but now many citizens now face "situations which were inconceivable", she said referring to 78 percent of the population now living under the poverty line. 

The situation is "a living nightmare" and has left some of the most vulnerable groups in increasingly critical conditions. 

“78% of #Lebanese are now estimated to live below poverty line. For most vulnerable, the impact is devastating.🇺🇳&NGOs stand ready to support most vulnerable people in #Lebanon thru the $383M Emergency Response Plan”@rochdi_najat in press conference today👉https://t.co/qtnffZR5QW pic.twitter.com/ICY698Ha8W

— UN_Lebanon (@UN_Lebanon) October 1, 2021

Healthcare services are facing insurmountable pressure and are struggling to operate due to electricity and water shortages as well as a limited supply of medical equipment. 

"People are increasingly unable to access and afford healthcare amid the growing shortages of medicines and medical supplies. Pharmacy shelves are empty, hospital stocks are nearly depleted and home medicine cabinets are bare," Rochdi said.

The World Bank said Lebanon's financial crisis, precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic and the explosion of Lebanon's key Beirut port, could rank among the world's three worst since the mid-1800s.