Beirut – The European Union has granted EUR 2.5 million in humanitarian aid to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Lebanon, to ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services for the most vulnerable. 43,970 Lebanese and refugee women and girls affected by the economic crises are expected to benefit from the integrated services offered under one roof. The EU funding will support five health facilities, a women and girls’ safe space and a safe shelter.

“Amid Lebanon’s severe crisis it is crucial that we protect women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health,” said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. “Access to health care and protection services has been compromised but they are essential to protect and save lives. The EU is therefore helping UNFPA to scale up services for the most marginalised and vulnerable women and girls.”

EU-supported health facilities will provide a range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services including antenatal, postnatal care and family planning. This is expected to contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.

Gender-based violence (GBV) services will also become more accessible to vulnerable women and girls. The facilities will offer case management for gender-based violence survivors in the same location or through referrals, complemented by cash assistance where needed.

Prices of sanitary pads having soared, dignity kits will be distributed in all locations for women and girls’ basic hygiene needs, and menstrual hygiene management will be supported. The project will promote the adoption of the sexual and reproductive health/gender-based violence (SRH/GBV) integrated model and aims to reach women and girls from both host and refugee communities. 

“Women are among the most affected by the multi-layered crisis in Lebanon; the interventions under this generous contribution by the EU will certainly contribute to alleviating the burden of the hardships on the vulnerable women by giving them access to a One Stop Shop integrated package of SRH and GBV”, said Asma Kurdahi, UNFPA Head of Office.

The interventions will be implemented in Beirut, South of Lebanon and Bekaa through UNFPA Lebanon’s partners: AMEL Association, ABAAD, SALAMA and Imam Sadr foundation.

2.5 million people in Lebanon need some form of humanitarian assistance – an increase of 31 percent from the 1.9 million estimated to be in need in August 2021. This is in addition to the 1.5 million refugees living in Lebanon.

UNFPA Lebanon has been responding to the humanitarian and emergency crisis since 2011 targeting women and adolescent girls of all nationalities by providing them with lifesaving SRH and GBV interventions. In 2021 only, it is estimated that around 34,000 beneficiaries were reached by UNFPA through a wide spectrum of SRH and GBV services.    

For more information or media inquiries please contact:

Nour Wahid, Communications and Media Officer, UNFPA Lebanon

Tel:  +961 70 66 18 76

Email: nwahid@unfpa.org