Lebanon UN launches $639.9 million humanitarian appeal amid Israel‑Hezbollah conflict

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced an emergency appeal for $639.9 million through August to support 1.4 million people affected by the Israel‑Hezbollah war in Lebanon. The appeal follows a $331.5 million funding request made by Lebanon's government, bringing the total required aid to the stated amount.

Since the escalation in March, more than 3,500 civilians have been killed and over 10,000 injured. Displacement exceeds 1.2 million, with many families forced to move repeatedly. UN humanitarian coordinator Imran Riza warned that “humanitarian needs are soaring” and that health workers face “death and injury on a horrific scale.” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the situation a “policy of collective punishment” and urged an end to attacks on civilians.

The appeal also highlights heightened risks for women and girls, with UNFPA estimating over 600,000 at risk of gender‑based violence and roughly 1,800 monthly births needing safe medical care. The UN seeks urgent scaling up of assistance to address shelter, health, food security and protection needs.