In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representative in Lebanon Ivo Freijsen, and the World Food Program Country Director and Representative in Lebanon Abdallah Alwardat announced the return to disbursement of cash assistance in dual currency to refugees.
“Following close consultations with relevant counterparts, government stakeholders, and the Central Bank in recent months, the United Nations and partners have now returned to the previous modality of disbursing cash assistance to refugees in dual currency,” the statement said.
“Given the operational challenges including the rapid depreciation of the local currency, increased fluctuations of the exchange rate, and the strain on the financial provider in supplying large volumes of cash in Lebanese pounds, it has become impossible for the United Nations and partners to continue to disburse cash assistance only in Lebanese pounds,” the statement added.
It went on to explain that “by the end of 2022, most assistance programs in the country, including the Government’s National Poverty Targeting Program supporting vulnerable Lebanese people, had shifted to USD or dual currency, allowing recipients to redeem their cash assistance either in USD or LBP.” According to the text, “dual currency payments for refugees are thus in line with this general approach.”
The UN and partners clarified the usefulness of cash-based interventions, noting that “it is used to provide protection, assistance, and services to the most vulnerable people across Lebanon. It helps Lebanese and refugees meet a variety of basic needs and contributes to the local economy by purchasing directly from local markets and shops.”
