The United Nations mission UNIFIL continues to make an important contribution towards stabilising the region and preventing an escalation between Lebanon and Israel. Its tasks also include strengthening state structures in Lebanon and helping to secure its borders. The German Bundestag has just extended the Bundeswehr mandate for the mission by a further year until 2024.

How is the German Government supporting this mission?

Germany has participated in the Maritime Task Force of the UNIFIL mission since 2006 and assumed command of the Task Force on 15 January 2021. The Bundeswehr performs key tasks to help protect Lebanon’s territorial waters, prevent arms smuggling and build capacities as well as train the Lebanese navy. Germany’s contribution is providing assistance to strengthen Lebanese state institutions. The long‑term aim of the Maritime Task Force is to enable the Lebanese navy to carry out the tasks currently performed by the mission.

What other assistance is Germany providing for Lebanon?

Lebanon is in the midst of a grave social, economic and financial crisis. This has been further aggravated by the COVID‑19 pandemic, the devastating explosions in the port of Beirut and the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on grain and energy prices.

For many years now, Germany has provided substantial humanitarian assistance, both for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and for Lebanese families particularly in need. In 2022, Germany made available around 168 million euro for humanitarian assistance measures in Lebanon. Germany is thus the second largest donor of humanitarian assistance after the United States. In particular, Germany is providing assistance for the World Food Programme in Lebanon, as malnutrition is a growing problem for refugees and host communities. A total of more than three million people in the country are currently dependent on food aid.

Due to this tense situation in Lebanon, it is important for the country to swiftly appoint a successor to President Aoun, whose term ended on 31 October 2022. Together with other donors, Germany is calling for an end to the ongoing political stalemate so that durable political and economic reforms can be implemented.