Remember WFP assistance is always free of charge.
Who provides cash assistance to cover food and other basic needs?
In Lebanon, cash assistance to cover basic needs is provided by UNHCR, WFP and other humanitarian organizations. Cash assistance for food is provided by WFP and other humanitarian organizations.
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For how long will families receive assistance?
Due to the situation, UNHCR and WFP’s 2023-2024 Cash Assistance cycle that started in December 2023 and was planned to last until December 2024 is further extended by a month, until January 2025. If you have been receiving monthly assistance from UNHCR and WFP in 2024 and your validation status is up to date, you are eligible to receive assistance for an additional month in January 2025.
Families selected for assistance later in the cycle will start receiving assistance as of when they were selected, until the end of the cycle, so for a shorter duration. Details will be shared via SMS to these families.
To continue receiving assistance, families must comply with certain rules and requirements such as regularly attending the validation exercise and redeeming their assistance. Failure to do so may lead to suspension of assistance.
Who is eligible for cash assistance and how does and WFP identify and select families for assistance?
If you are a refugee or asylum-seeking family known to UNHCR on or before 30 November 2023, you are automatically considered for the current cash assistance cycle (2023-2024). Your socio-economic vulnerability will be assessed at least once a year by UNHCR based on information collected at the reception center.
Why do some families receive more assistance than others?
Some families receive full assistance packages while others only receive partial packages. This is due to the fact that UNHCR and WFP focus limited funding to assist the most economically vulnerable families. The selection for assistance is mostly done based on a mathematical formula.
VERY IMPORTANT:
It is your responsibility to ensure that UNHCR has up to date and accurate personal information about you and your family in order to assess your eligibility for assistance. This includes changes to phone numbers, address in Lebanon, changes in your family composition including births, marriages, deaths or departures of any family members from Lebanon, medical situation etc. To do so, call UNHCR at 04-726111. If required, you will be granted an interview appointment. Remember UNHCR Reception Centers only receive individuals/families with appointments.
If your UNHCR certificate (UN paper) is about to expire, it is equally important that you call UNHCR six months before your certificate expires to request a renewal appointment with UNHCR.
Phone number update only: This can also be done through Self-service machines, Khadamatys, in Community Development Centres and UNHCR Reception Centres. You can do this at your own convenience, and you do not need an appointment or to call UNHCR in advance. Please see the Q&A for Khadamaty.
What are my responsibilities in order to receive/continue receiving assistance?
In order to receive assistance, it is your responsibility to:
Inform UNHCR about any changes to your personal information including changes to phone numbers, address in Lebanon, changes in your family composition including births, marriages, deaths or departures of any family members from Lebanon, medical situation.
Attend and successfully pass the physical validation exercise two times a year with UNHCR, and four times a year with WFP.
Ensure that your assistance is redeemed within 2 months of the assistance upload to the Red Card.
Have a valid UNHCR certificate (UN paper) or barcode in Lebanon, renewable every 2 years.
Keep the Red Card safe and report any instances of loss or theft to the WFP call centre on 1526.
Any misuse of assistance or acts of fraud may result in the cancellation of your assistance. Misuse of assistance and fraud include:
Selling your Red Card
Givin the Red Card to another family or person, unless you have given your consent that this person will help you withdraw/redeem your assistance.
Preventing other family members from benefitting from the assistance.
Not providing accurate personal information to UNHCR.
In case you face any issues, please call UNHCR at 04-726111 or WFP at 1526.
The assistance we receive is not enough to cover our basic needs. Are UNHCR/WFP planning to increase the assistance amount?
UNHCR and WFP are aware of the increase in the cost of living across Lebanon. The amount of assistance provided is determined based on needs, availability of funds and market prices – which change frequently. Neither WFP nor UNHCR have enough money to meet all of the needs. This means both agencies have to prioritize available funds to support the most vulnerable refugees in covering part of their basic survival needs.
Any changes to the amount of assistance needs to be approved by several partners and authorities. Therefore, it can take some time to adjust the assistance amount after a change in market prices.