Lebanon :

The "Land of the Cedars" faces severe economic problems and food insecurity. The value of the Lebanese pound has massively depreciated in recent years making imports much more expensive and causing inflation to skyrocket. Lebanon has also suffered from the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. Lebanese expatriates now send less money to their families back home, and foreign investments have also decreased.

Poverty has significantly increased food insecurity. Women appear to be more affected than men in this regard, with households headed by women particularly dependent on financial support from relatives abroad. Healthcare in Lebanon is largely privatized and difficult to access for the many people without income. Some hospitals lack medication. Vaccination rates for young children have significantly decreased, while maternal mortality rates have increased.

In Lebanese society, the risks of forced labor, exploitation and sexual abuse, gender-based violence, child labor, and early marriage are high. Migrants living in Lebanon are also exposed to various risks, including abuse and discrimination from employers and landlords.

The civil war has driven many Syrians to seek refuge in Lebanon, where more than 2 out of 5 inhabitants are refugees. The economy, healthcare, education, and housing market cannot keep up.

In this challenging context, Caritas Lebanon, one of the country's leading NGOs, is active nationwide. The organization runs humanitarian and educational programs for highly vulnerable refugees and Lebanese families. Providing education to children and young people (Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, etc.) is essential to ensuring the future of an entire generation.