The impact of shrinking donor support for UN agencies assisting displaced Syrians in Lebanon is starting to bite, with sharp reductions in aid programs raising concerns about worsening hardship and questions over whether the cuts could accelerate returns to Syria.

Washington’s decision to slash contributions to several UN bodies has already translated into reduced services for displaced Syrians, particularly from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which says it is struggling to sustain basic programs.

The halt in U.S. funding, compounded by shortfalls from other donors, has directly weakened the UNHCR’s ability to provide essential assistance both to refugees and to Lebanon’s most vulnerable host communities.

“This drop in funding comes at a critical time, when there is an urgent need to secure resources to sustain lifesaving programs and preserve the humanitarian response in Lebanon,” UNHCR spokesperson Lisa Abou Khaled told Annahar.

“The UNHCR, along with the wider humanitarian community, is facing a sudden and unprecedented decrease in funding in 2025,” she said. “Despite these extremely difficult circumstances, the UNHCR remains committed to staying in Lebanon and continuing its services. We urge donors to maintain their support during this critical stage.”

The consequences of the cuts are already being felt. The number of displaced Syrians benefiting from UNHCR’s emergency cash program has plummeted to 18,000, constituting an 80% drop from 82,000 previously.

Some 347,000 people have also been excluded from the agency’s cash assistance since January, a 60% reduction in coverage. That means 42,000 people will no longer receive housing improvement support, and 45,000 displaced will lose access to secondary healthcare as of December.

Shelter aid has been among the hardest hit. Cash assistance for housing has been slashed by 90%, cutting the number of beneficiaries from 95,000 to 11,000, leaving 83,000 people without support. In parallel, shelter materials and accommodation upgrades will no longer be provided to 42,000 people.

The health sector has also been severely affected. UNHCR has already terminated its primary healthcare program, impacting 40,000 displaced, while its education support will also be scrapped, depriving 15,000 children of community-based programs and school retention schemes.

Abou Khaled added that resettlement programs may also be suspended, warning that as many as 400,000 people could be deprived of relocation to a third country if sufficient funds are not secured.