At a critical juncture, Switzerland is making its mark in Lebanon through diplomatic and humanitarian efforts
Bern, 06.07.2026 — Patricia Danzi, head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, head of the Middle East and North Africa Division at the FDFA State Secretariat, held political talks in Lebanon from 3 to 5 July 2026 and assessed the humanitarian situation. A few days after the conclusion of a trilateral framework agreement between the US, Lebanon and Israel, they emphasised Switzerland’s willingness to provide its good offices at a crucial moment for the region. They also reviewed how the emergency aid for Lebanon, which the FDFA had pledged in March, is being implemented.
As part of the political consultations, Ms Schmutz Kirgöz met in Beirut with her Lebanese counterpart, Ibrahim Assaf, director of political and consular affairs at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussion focused on the current security, domestic political and economic situation in Lebanon, the volatile developments in the region, and bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.
Ms Schmutz Kirgöz welcomed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise the situation in Lebanon and reaffirmed Switzerland’s willingness to support these processes. She offered Switzerland’s good offices and emphasised the importance of an inclusive political dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders, as well as a political vision for lasting peace and security in Lebanon.
Later, Ms Schmutz Kirgöz was received by President Joseph Aoun. The discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges of the ongoing stabilisation process.
Switzerland provides emergency humanitarian aid
For her part, Ms Danzi held talks with development cooperation partners and gained a first-hand insight into the impact of the ongoing crises on the local population.
The focus was on the situation in the south of the country. It is there that the consequences of the economic, social and security challenges are particularly evident. She discussed the needs, gaps in supplies and the effectiveness of ongoing programmes with local authorities, international organisations and civil society actors. The humanitarian situation remains tense: by the end of June, more than 700,000 people had been internally displaced. Of these, around 52,000 people were living in shared accommodation. Since March, the fighting has also resulted in more than 4,200 deaths and left over 12,000 with injuries. In view of the serious impact of the war in the Middle East on the population, this year Switzerland has already allocated CHF 13.5 million to the region – of which CHF 5.5 million is earmarked for Lebanon – and adapted existing programmes to meet the most urgent needs.
While there, Ms Danzi visited communities affected by internal displacement. Many people have only limited access to basic services in the areas of healthcare, water and sanitation, and education. The electricity supply and employment prospects also remain uncertain and many households are struggling with the rising cost of living. Where possible, the SDC’s local partners provide key services. To date, humanitarian organisations have reached over 1.1 million people with water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives, while health partners have provided more than 440,000 medical consultations for displaced people.
Ms Danzi also emphasised the importance of strengthening resilience. She visited projects designed to make communities more resilient – through sustainable water management, support for small businesses and educational programmes for young people.
The joint visit by the two Swiss ambassadors brought together diplomacy, peacebuilding and development cooperation. With this broad-based approach, Switzerland is setting an example of stability, dialogue and sustainable development in a region that remains a geopolitical hotspot.