Cash Assistance

Contrary to the practice in previous years, the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) that facilitates targeting appeal processes will not be available for the new assistance cycle.

This is because UNHCR and WFP are using all available funds to select the highest possible number of families for inclusion into the new assistance cycle.

If additional funding becomes available, more refugee families will be considered and included for cash assistance.

If you are a refugee or asylum seeker known to UNHCR, you are eligible for consideration for cash assistance.

Based on information collected at the reception center, UNHCR assesses your socio-economic vulnerability. The most vulnerable families are eligible for monthly cash assistance and reassessed every year at the end of the annual cash assistance cycle.

If you are selected for assistance UNHCR will inform you by 📨SMS.

Cash assistance is provided without discrimination.

To receive cash assistance, you will need to receive a red bank card and a PIN code issued by Banque Libano-Française (BLF). These are distributed by UNHCR partners to families selected to receive UNHCR cash assistance.

If you do not yet have a card, UNHCR will contact you to provide one to you. Also, you will be asked on a regular basis to have your card validated (See No.2 on card validation in Question 5).

When the cash assistance is available in your account, UNHCR will inform you by 📨SMS. You can withdraw assistance at BLF ATMs and selected BoB Finance branches up to 1 month after receiving the 📨SMS. To find the nearest redemption point, visit the UNHCR Lebanon Redeem website. You can also use it to buy goods at local markets and shops equipped with a payment machine, including any WFP contracted shops.

The new cash assistance cycle will start in April 2025 and end in September 2025. However, current available funding can only support selected families for a 3-month period, from April to June 2025.

If additional funds become available in coming weeks and months, the duration of assistance and selection of beneficiaries will be revised and affected refugee families will be informed accordingly.

If you are selected to receive assistance, make sure to:

1. Maintain a valid UNHCR certificate (UN paper) or barcode in Lebanon and request a renewal appointment before the expiry date of your UN certificate
2. Conduct and successfully pass card physical validation two times a year
3. Contact the UNHCR National Call Center at 📞04726111 to report any update in your personal information
4. Keep the Red Card safe and report any instances of loss/theft
5. Withdraw assistance within 1 month of receiving an 📨SMS from UNHCR
6. Refrain from engaging in acts of fraud or misuse of assistance, including:

• Selling your Red Card
• Giving the Red Card to another family or person, unless you have given your consent that to this person to help you redeem your assistance
• Preventing other family members from benefitting from the assistance
• Not providing accurate or true information about your family or situation when updating your file at the UNHCR Reception Centre

📢ATTENTION!📢 It is your responsibility to inform UNHCR of a change in your phone number or family circumstances, including births, deaths, or departure of any family members from Lebanon. You can do so by calling the UNHCR National Call Center at 📞04726111. Not complying with these guidelines may lead to discontinuation from cash assistance.

Starting April 2025, beneficiaries will be invited to validate remotely using a link received via SMS. Only one adult needs to complete the process. The beneficiary’s photo, card photo and location will be captured to confirm that the correct card is with the right family and that they are in Lebanon.

Alternatively (instead of completing remote validation via SMS link), beneficiaries can validate at any of the self-service Khadamaty machines.

Receiving cash assistance to cover food and basic needs does not affect your file status with UNHCR, nor your access to other services.

If you do not receive cash assistance for food and basic needs, this does not mean that your UNHCR certificate (UN Paper) or barcode will be cancelled.

However, it is important to remain in contact with UNHCR and attend appointments you have been invited to (or call UNHCR at 📞04726111 to schedule a new appointment time) to keep your file active.

For inquiries or concern related to cash assistance provided by UNHCR, please call the UNHCR National Call Center at 📞04726111.

To report urgent issues with your Red Card, please contact BLF at 📞01242477 or 📞03242477.

Remember:

• UNHCR Lebanon does not operate any TikTok account
• UNHCR does not offer services on Facebook
• UNHCR operates one WhatsApp Channel in Lebanon: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/whatsapp
• Look for weblinks with unhcr.org or unhcr-lb.org

If you have shared personal data with anyone you are suspicious of, or you are in doubt about the authenticity of a message, please call the UNHCR National Call Center at 📞 04726111 or contact us through the 🗎 Online Contact Form to report it.

No. You do not have to pay any fee at any point. If you are requested to pay a fee at any point (such as at a validation center or ATM), do not pay and please call the UNHCR National Call Center at 📞 04726111 or contact us through 🗎 the Online Contact Form to report it.