Beirut, 1 March 2025 – At the end of a two-day visit to Lebanon, UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu called for increased investment in stabilization and recovery efforts as the country seeks to rebuild after more than a year of hostilities and long-standing governance and economic challenges. Emphasizing the urgent need for international support, Xu called for a collective effort to help Lebanon restore peace, revitalize its economy, and rebuild trust in public institutions. 

During his visit, Xu met with Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun and the President of the Council of Ministers Nawaf Salam. He also traveled to southern Lebanon to meet with the local authorities and people who were forced to flee their homes. 

“As Lebanon navigates this critical moment, international support can be decisive in helping the country stabilize, recover, and rebuild,” said Xu. “UNDP has been working with the government, civil society and international partners to enhance national leadership and state capacity, promoting good governance and advancing recovery. We will continue working with our partners to promote unity and to ensure that no one is left behind in Lebanon’s path toward stability and lasting peace.” 

Over 4,000 people were killed and 17,000 injured in 13 months of fighting before the ceasefire agreement. Nearly 1.2 million people were forcibly displaced within the country, and there was extensive damage to homes, businesses, and farms. The recent crisis – the most severe since the 2006 war – exacerbated Lebanon’s existing instability and economic struggles, leading to significant contractions in GDP and widespread unemployment. 

Xu visited Tyre in the south, where he engaged with local authorities, first responders, and beneficiaries of emergency employment programmes. Thanks to the generous support of the development partners, UNDP has provided equipment to first responders, created emergency employment opportunities for displaced people—including persons with disabilities. With generous funding from the Republic of Korea, and Denmark, UNDP is working closely with UNIFIL, to support basic services delivery and improve livelihood opportunities in the agricultural sector.

“Despite the scale of destruction, I have also witnessed remarkable strength and determination to rebuild,” Xu said. “However, the recovery process will be challenging, and the new government must move quickly with limited financial resources.” 

UNDP is implementing a comprehensive recovery package with the government to restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure, and support crisis-affected communities. These efforts focus on strengthening local crisis management, providing emergency employment, rubble removal, solid waste management, rehabilitating key civilian infrastructure, mine action, and building capacity within security services.  

The recovery package also prioritizes assistance to small businesses, which represent approximately 90% of the Lebanese economy. Additionally, UNDP is working to enhance environmental sustainability and revive the agricultural sector.

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For more information, please contact: 
In UNDP – Lebanon       | Maryam Sweid‎ | maryam.sweid@undp.org | +961 ‎(71) 366 212‎ 
 
About UNDP: 

UNDP is working in Lebanon since 1986 as a development partner supporting economic recovery, including working with municipalities to deliver basic services to host communities, promoting clean energy and solid waste management, strengthening governance and rule of law, providing support to elections, and working on empowering women and youth.