Lebanon
The Republic of Lebanon, is a country in Western Asia in the Levant region of the Middle East, and home to around 6.8 million people, of which 2.4 million live in the capital of Beirut.
Due to its geographical location, Lebanon has often been affected by Middle Eastern conflicts, hosting one of the world’s largest percentage of refugees, mostly from Palestine and Syria, who face a disproportionately high rate of poverty.
Almost 90% people living in Lebanon, reside in urban areas, with the remaining 10% living in rural villages.
SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it in Lebanon since 1969.
Children are at risk
Lebanon is home to around 1.8 million children, constituting approximately 33% of the population. Children in Lebanon suffer many hardships as a result of conflict, abuse, exploitation and forced labour. Many are systematically denied access to basic services including health and education- this is due to difficulties in registering births and getting identity documents.
1 in 4
Children go to bed hungry
Widespread poverty
Lebanon’s poverty rate has doubled in recent years, now affecting around 80% of the population, with around 36% living in extreme poverty.
With inflation and dramatic rising prices of basic goods, coupled with high unemployment rates, the vast majority of households do not have enough money to cover basic necessities. This had led to a rise in child poverty and at least 23% of children go to bed hungry.
1 in 6
Children do not go to school
Education
Children in Lebanon face several barriers to accessing education. 1 in 10 children are sent to work and 3 in 10 households need to cut their spending on education. At least 15% of families in Lebanon have been forced to stop their children’s education. In addition, there has been an increase in child marriages.
Around half of the children who are refugees aren’t in school. Worse still, around 30% of Syrian child refugees have never been to school.
1 in 2
Refugees
Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, equating to around 20% of the total population. Almost all refugees are living in extreme poverty, receiving no humanitarian assistance, and without enough money to buy the food they need to survive.
Half of the refugees living in Lebanon are children. Children born into poverty are more likely to experience a wide range of health problems, and also face social exclusion that further worsen their prospects, leading to multigenerational poverty.
Together we can make a difference for children in Lebanon
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230
Families
Can stay together
30
Children
Learn at our kindergartens and schools
690
Medical treatments
Were possible
140
Children
Grow up in our care
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10
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
1,140
Emergency services
Were possible
