Advice for people wanting to donate

Overview

Australia enjoys friendly bilateral relations with Lebanon, underpinned by strong people-to-people links. The Australian Embassy in Beirut, opened in 1967, was the third Australian Embassy to be established in the Middle East.

Political overview

Lebanon has a population of approximately 4.6 million, with 18 recognised distinct religious denominations. Although no official census has been taken since 1932, it is widely accepted that the majority of Lebanon's population is now Muslim (Sunni and Shi'a). There are also significant Maronite Christian and Druze populations, and a small Alawite community. Syrian refugees make up one quarter of the population—the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world.

Lebanon is a democratic parliamentary republic with a confessional structure. The political system seeks to maintain equilibrium and stability through the allocation of parliamentary seats, ministerial posts and key offices of state among the various religious communities. By custom, the President is a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the Legislature a Shi'a Muslim. The National Assembly is made up of 128 deputies, with equal representation for Muslims and Christians. National Assembly deputies are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The President is elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are appointed by the President in consultation with the National Assembly.

Economic overview

Lebanon has a free market, service-oriented economy (mainly commerce, tourism and financial services). The country is experiencing a severe economic and financial crisis, exacerbated by domestic political instability, the conflict in neighbouring Syria (including the significant influx of displaced Syrians into Lebanon), the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the 4 August 2020 port explosion in Beirut. Lebanon’s economy has contracted by nearly 60 per cent since 2019.

Since early 2020, the currency has depreciated and inflation risen sharply. According to the World Bank (May 2024), the poverty rate in Lebanon has increased from 12 per cent in 2012 to 44 per cent in 2022.

Inflation remains high at 70.4 per cent as of March 2024. The livelihoods of ordinary Lebanese, as well as Syrian refugees, are deteriorating following the economic contraction and rising unemployment, including reduced access to transportation, electricity and healthcare. The ongoing economic crisis has also caused significant disruption to public services.

Bilateral relations

Australia shares a warm bilateral relationship with Lebanon, underpinned by our strong people-to-people links. In the 2021 census, over 248,000 Australians reported Lebanese ancestry. The Lebanese community in Australia contributes strongly in sport, business and political pursuits, including: Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO, first female Governor of New South Wales; Michael Cheika, former coach of the Australian Wallabies rugby team; and Ahmed Fahour, former Australia Post CEO and former Chair of the Council of Australian-Arab Relations. Approximately 15,000 Australians normally reside in Lebanon. This number increases by several thousand during Lebanon's summer.

According to Australian Government figures (which exclude exports trans-shipped to Lebanon through other regional ports), total two-way goods and services trade amounted to $310.0 million in 2023 ($77.1 million in Australian exports and $233.8 million in imports from Lebanon). Key Australian exports include education-related travel and recreational travel. Major imports from Lebanon include recreational travel, vegetables and jewellery.

Austrade's office in Riyadh is responsible for Lebanon. Austrade's website has information on doing business in Lebanon and market profiles of priority sectors, such as education, food and health and medical.

Humanitarian assistance

Australia has committed over $156 million in humanitarian assistance since 2017 in response to Lebanon’s multifaceted crises. 

Australia’s funding has responded to Lebanon’s economic crisis, the 2020 Beirut port blast, the influx of Syrian refugees, and most recently the escalation in conflict between Hizballah and Israel. 

Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Australia has committed $94.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the region, including $23 million to Lebanon. 

As of 23 October 2024, the conflict had displaced an estimated 830,000 people within Lebanon and a further 425,000 people (71 per cent Syrian and 27 per cent Lebanese) who have fled from Lebanon to Syria. The conflict has exacerbated humanitarian need in Lebanon, including among Syrian refugees, which has increased since the 2019 economic contraction. 

Australia’s assistance is supporting partners to address immediate and emerging needs, including access to food, shelter, healthcare and other critical services for the most vulnerable. Australia will continue to monitor and assess the situation in the region and stands ready to provide further support.

Support for United Nations activities in Lebanon

A number of UN agencies are active in Lebanon and receive support from Australia. Since 1956, and continuing to the present day, the ADF has provided military observers as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), which operates in Lebanon (as well as a number of other countries in the Middle East).

Australia's stance on Hizballah

Hizballah is a multi-faceted Lebanese Shi'ite organisation comprising political and social elements, as well as a military wing. It has participated in Lebanon's political system since 1992.

On 10 December 2021, the Australian Government listed Hizballah, in its entirety, as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. Australia supports UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006) which call for the disarmament of non-state armed groups in Lebanon, including Hizballah. The Australian Government listed Hizballah in its entirety under Part 4 of the Charter of the United Nations Act in December 2001 for the purpose of financial sanctions.

Advice for people wanting to donate

The Australian Government is actively monitoring the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and consulting with humanitarian agencies and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

The Australian Government is providing funding through UN agencies, which have strong procedures in place to manage risks and comply with counter-terrorism financing and Australian sanctions laws.

Donated goods may not meet the needs of the affected population and can be inappropriate for the climate and culture. Managing these donations can also cause challenges for relief authorities in Australia and in-country. For more information on how to donate responsibly, please visit: Donate Responsibly.

Those wishing to make a monetary donation can visit ACFID’s website for information on its consolidated appeal. 

Additional information on risks of donating

Australia has listed Hizballah as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code and it is also a designated entity subject to counter-terrorism financing sanctions under Australian sanctions law. Under the Criminal Code it is a criminal offence to fund terrorist organisations, either directly or indirectly. It is also a criminal offence for a person to provide or collect funds where that person knows or is reckless to the fact that the funds will be used to facilitate or engage in a terrorist act. Under Australian sanctions law, it is a criminal offence to make assets available, either directly or indirectly, to Hizballah.

Australians who provide money to a family member, friend or other individual or organisation in Lebanon may be committing an offence under the Criminal Code or sanctions law if:

• they provide the money with the intention that it be made available to Hizballah (or another terrorist organisation or designated person or entity), or
• they are aware there is substantial risk that the money will be made available to Hizballah (or another terrorist organisation or designated person or entity).

There is a risk that donated funds may be misused for the purpose of terrorism financing.

To mitigate against this risk, it is important that due diligence is conducted and proper processes are in place to ensure funds are protected from misuse and are being used towards their charitable purpose.  It is also important that recipients of the funds are not a designated person or entity under Australian sanctions law, or a terrorist organisation’ under the Criminal Code. Liability under these respective schemes is dependent on particular factual circumstances including the knowledge and intention of the person providing the funds

The Australian Government Listed Terrorist Organisations website and Australia’s Consolidated List of designated persons and entities subject to targeted financial sanctions, can assist the public undertake their due diligence checks. We also recommend reviewing the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) website where it is possible to check if a charity is registered with ACNC as well as access useful information on donations more broadly.

The Australian Government's funding agreements with partners contain strict requirements designed to assist Australia to meet its counter-terrorism financing, anti-money laundering, anti-fraud and anti-corruption obligations.

High level visits

In June 2023, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts visited Lebanon to discuss important national and regional security issues, advance Australia’s economic interests in the Middle East, and strengthen our important people and business ties.

There have also been a number of high-level visits to Lebanon, including: then Defence Minister, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP in 2019; then Governor-General, His Excellency General the Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove in October 2017; then Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism, the Hon Michael Keenan MP in April 2017; then Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP in November 2015; and then Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP in April 2014.

In April 2012, then President of Lebanon, His Excellency Michel Sleiman, undertook a state visit to Australia. Then-Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil visited Australia in April 2017 and again in March 2018, where he hosted the Lebanese Diaspora Conference in Sydney.