On July 10, the HRC publicly announced that it stopped covering the cost of secondary health care due to lack of funding. This will have a severe impact on UNHCR and partner agencies. While agencies will continue to shoulder most of the costs of humanitarian assistance, current funding levels do not permit these agencies from filling in for all coverage previously provided by the HRC. UNHCR is actively advocating for additional funding sources for the HRC in order to fill this urgent gap.

UNHCR estimates that last week 18,000 people crossed into Lebanon between Wednesday and Thursday. The numbers died down since Friday, with those entering from Syria -most from Damascus or Homs- largely being matched by those returning.

Monday July 24 witnessed another increase of approximately 6,000 new arrivals through the Masna border crossing with about 2,500 persons returning to Syria. Most of those interviewed before returning to Syria said they were doing so to check on their home or for personal reasons including business and family visits.