Improving Prospects for Refugees and Vulnerable Host Communities in Lebanon – Budget Reprogramming for Covid-19 Response

The Government of Lebanon declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the 15th of March 2020. The situation is compounded because of the layering of the pandemic onto the ongoing economic and political instability experienced over the course of 2019 and into 2020. The combination of the three means that Lebanon faces a particularly difficult challenge in supporting displacement-affected populations in the short- but also into the medium- and longer-term, as the country deals with these crises and recovers from them. This programme will expand the integrated approach to provide services to children exposed to all forms of child protection violations including all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect resulting from the COVID-19 response measures and promote a more protective environment for children to prevent violations. This programme will also address the immediate basic needs of families during this emergency phase and support local authorities to adequately prepare for the coronavirus outbreak.