Beirut:The Government of Germany is contributing an extra £5 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to aid stability and recovery in Lebanon through the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), raising its total support to £10 million. This funding will be used for equipment necessary for rubble and explosive ordnance removal, as well as providing food, healthcare, education, and housing assistance to enhance the dignity and wellbeing of LAF personnel and their families.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, the non-military assistance will be extended until 2028, aiming to help personnel fulfill essential needs while bolstering the LAF's capability to support safe access and recovery in affected communities.
This contribution comes as the LAF faces increasing responsibilities in extending state authority, aligning with UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). These responsibilities have increased amidst ongoing financial pressures on the LAF since 2019. More than 50,000 LAF personnel and family members were displaced after hostilities escalated in March 2026, with their return still uncertain. This occurs during a transitional period in Lebanon, following the adoption of Security Council resolution 2790 (2025), which ended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"Germany's continued support sends a strong signal of solidarity at a decisive moment of transition for Lebanon," stated Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab States. He emphasized the critical role of the Armed Forces in safeguarding Lebanon's recovery, given the trust they hold across the country's complex political landscape.
Germany has been supporting the programme since its inception in December 2024, with its initial £5 million contribution ensuring that all 144 LAF commissaries remain stocked with essential food items at subsidized prices and implementing point-of-sale software throughout the commissary network.
The programme provides a framework for non-military support to the LAF, supporting around 81,500 service members and their families. It also enhances the LAF's civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) to strengthen community engagement and trust in State institutions.
Implemented by UNDP through a Memorandum of Understanding with Lebanon's Ministry of National Defense and the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the programme incorporates contributions from Germany, the European Union, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, and Japan. It aims to integrate security and stability support with Lebanon's broader recovery efforts.
The new German contribution is offered through UNDP's Funding Window on Governance, Peacebuilding, Crisis, and Resilience. Through the same funding window, Germany has separately donated more than £6 million to the Stabilization Response Mechanism, supporting the Internal Security Forces in South Lebanon and the restoration of essential public services, including civil registry and traffic management.
The project, which enhances the engagement of the Lebanese Armed Forces by supporting the livelihoods of its service members, runs from December 2024 to February 2028. It focuses on the wellbeing and food security of LAF personnel and their families, access to social services, and civil-military cooperation, contributing to stabilization, recovery, and renewed trust in State institutions.