Lebanon is currently affected by multiple crises which are deteriorating the social fabric amid rising poverty, hyperinflation, loss of jobs, rising food insecurity, and communal tensions. The Italian Cooperation has increased funding for social assistance interventions to alleviate the impact of the crises in affected communities through cash transfer programs.
The financial contribution of 2,875,000 euros to WFP makes possible the provision of cash for food to vulnerable Lebanese beneficiaries of the government-led National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP). WFP will support more than 19.000 vulnerable Lebanese for a period of 6 months through food e-cards that can be used in 470 shops throughout Lebanon. “Lebanon’s economic crisis is pushing more families into extreme poverty. WFP is committed to support these families through reinforced and expanded social safety net programmes,” said Abdallah Alwardat, WFP Representative in Lebanon. “Italy’s generous contribution to the National Poverty Targeting Programme ensures that the poorest Lebanese have the ability to buy the nutritious food that they need. It also represents a significant injection of cash into the deeply affected Lebanese economy; this is money spent in Lebanese shops helping to maintain hundreds of local jobs.”
The financial contribution of 2,875,000 euros to UNHCR supports the provision of multi-purpose cash assistance to over 389.000 vulnerable refugees in the month of December. Beneficiaries can withdraw cash from affiliated ATMs and decide independently how to use it. “This year has been difficult for everyone, and especially for the most vulnerable refugees,” said Mireille Girard, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon. “UNHCR’s cash assistance programme is more critical than ever for families to cover basic costs and keep some level of dignity. Italy’s support ahead of winter, the most difficult period of the year, will make a lot of difference to many.”
Donatella Procesi, Director of the Beirut Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, declared: “This financial contribution to WFP and UNHCR strengthens the social protection of vulnerable Lebanese and refugees, and contributes to the expansion of the National Poverty Targeting Program. The Italian Cooperation reaffirms the commitment to protect and promote the well-being of the households affected by the multiple crises and to foster social cohesion and stability”.
The Ambassador of Italy in Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardiere, commented: “The social protection of the vulnerable Lebanese population, as well as the refugees, has increasingly become a priority for the Italian Cooperation, in light of the current socio-economic crisis. The Italian contributions to WFP and UNHCR allow to ease the burden on the most affected people, as a step towards the auspicable implementation of a comprehensive social safety nets program”.
