Why are some families discontinued from assistance at the start of each annual assistance cycle?
Due to limited financial resources, UNHCR and WFP may not be able to assist all vulnerable families and have to prioritize the most vulnerable families for inclusion in the cash assistance programme. Each year, based on the most recent review of the situation of families, some are not selected for assistance. We understand that such changes are difficult for refugees, especially since the needs of the vast majority of families remain high, with limited livelihood and income-generating opportunities. However, with limited resources, it is only through prioritization that WFP and UNHCR will be able to stretch available resources and continue to support the most vulnerable refugees in coping with the current situation.
Families that will no longer qualify to receive monthly assistance should keep their Red Card safe with them as they may still qualify to receive cash assistance in the future if more funds become available or if they are eligible for other forms of assistance. Families that were discontinued from assistance one year are not automatically selected for assistance the following year. Selection for assistance is determined on the basis of economic vulnerability, which can change from one year to the next.
Why are some families suspended during the assistance cycle?
Assistance is only suspended if you do not attend card distribution or validation exercises, or if you do not withdraw your assistance over several months, despite several reminders. Suspensions are done extremely carefully, after several attempts to contact the beneficiary. If you are no longer receiving assistance, please keep the Red Card safe with you as you may still receive assistance in the future. You are still known to UNHCR and may be eligible for other forms of assistance.
Why am I being told to withdraw my remaining balance and informed that in case I do not, the amount will be removed?
UNHCR and WFP retract or offload assistance from the Red Card in very specific situations. These include:
If you currently receive assistance from UNHCR and/or WFP, and you have not withdrawn any assistance for two consecutive months. This does not apply where challenges such as loss of a Red Card is reported.
If for any reason, you are discontinued from assistance and your balance is not withdrawn over a period of three months from the last upload of assistance.
UNHCR and/or WFP retracts cash assistance from the Red Card to make sure assistance does not remain unused over prolonged periods of time. This is done as a last resort, after several attempts to remind families to withdraw their assistance and/or to address any pending issues preventing families from withdrawing their assistance.
Once assistance has been offloaded, it cannot be reloaded.
Can I be reconsidered if I was not selected for the next assistance cycle?
Syrian refugee families that do not receive monthly assistance from UNHCR or WFP have the opportunity to place a claim, through the Grievance Redress Mechanism, once a year to appeal for their case to be reconsidered.
If you were not selected to receive monthly assistance from UNHCR or WFP starting December 2023, you can place a claim between 30 October and 11 December 2023. After a thorough review process, UNHCR and WFP will prioritize claimants facing specific obstacles to meet their most basic needs. A limited number of families will be re-included for assistance.
You may also be reconsidered for assistance by UNHCR and/or WFP later in the year, depending on whether additional funds become available. To be eligible for reconsideration, please make sure to maintain an active file with UNHCR.
If I returned to Syria for emergency health care or any other reason and then decide to come back to Lebanon, can I approach UNHCR and receive the assistance again (in case I was previously eligible)?
Individuals who are planning to temporarily go back to Syria, e.g. for emergency health care, and then re-enter Lebanon are advised to contact UNHCR in advance to seek information on how this will affect their file. Assistance might be impacted by temporary return to Syria and might not be resumed automatically upon return.