The UNDP Tensions Pulse was published in March 2026 as part of UNDP’s Tensions Monitoring System (TMS). The report provides real-time analysis of emerging social tensions linked to displacement, conflict escalation, and pressure on services across Lebanon. It aims to inform conflict-sensitive programming and support evidence-based decision-making to prevent further instability.
Key insights:
Over 133,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently hosted in 645 shelters operating at 96% capacity, intensifying pressure on already strained infrastructure and services.
Rising opposition to the establishment of large IDP shelters, particularly in Beirut (e.g., Karantina), is fueling politico-sectarian tensions and anti-IDP sentiment.
Misinformation and inflammatory narratives around shelter locations in areas such as Dbayeh and Downtown Beirut are exacerbating social divisions and public resistance to displacement hosting.
Disruptions to critical infrastructure, including the Saida–Tyre highway following the Qasmieh bridge attack, are limiting mobility and humanitarian access, particularly in southern regions.
Growing tensions between host communities and displaced populations are evident, including resistance to relocation, restrictive measures on displaced Syrians, and intra-community disputes over shelter closures.
Key hotspots include Beirut, Saida, Tyre, and areas in the North and Bekaa, where pressure on housing, services, and security concerns are driving localized instability.
Continued insecurity, including attacks, gunfire, and restrictions on reporting, is contributing to fear, reduced access to services, and heightened risk of further escalation.
