Labour MP Alan Gemmell has called on the UK to continue supporting Lebanon's reconstruction after a series of devastating setbacks, including a recent war between Iran and Israel that has killed over 4,000 Lebanese since March 2026.
Writing in the Record, the MP for Central Ayrshire recalled a recent visit to Lebanon with the Foreign Affairs Committee, his first official trip since 2008. He noted the country's remarkable resilience but acknowledged the immense challenges it faces.
Lebanon's Multiple Crises
Since Gemmell's 2008 visit, Lebanon has endured a financial crash in 2019 that wiped out life savings and reduced wages by 90 per cent. After the fall of Assad, 100,000 Syrians fled to Lebanon, joining over 1.5 million Syrian refugees already in the country. The recent Iran-Israel war has killed over 4,000 Lebanese and displaced 20 per cent of the population due to Israel's occupation of south Lebanon and evacuation warnings.
Gemmell described a constant drone presence: "It's the drone," someone told him. "The Israelis have an MK2 above our heads all day most days. It's the size of a small plane." Another joked, "When my husband tells me he can't find his keys, I tell him, ask the drone."
UK Role and Border Security
Gemmell emphasised the UK's role in supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to secure borders and sovereignty. He visited a watchtower in the Beqaa valley with the General of the Third Land Border Regiment, where British-designed and funded projects have helped the LAF monitor the border with Syria for the first time. Over 10 years, former British army officers have refined a concept first developed in Northern Ireland and deployed in Afghanistan, training soldiers and building long-term relationships.
The President and Prime Minister of Lebanon thanked the UK for this invaluable work, according to Gemmell.
Humanitarian Impact
Gemmell also met a Syrian family in a UN camp. Mariam, a refugee, receives $140 a month via UK Aid on an e-card. After covering food, water, and electricity, she pays off debts or acquires new ones, such as buying second-hand clothes for her children. One of her daughters hugged a colleague and expressed a desire to become a doctor.
Gemmell concluded: "Here in Lebanon we have a role to play to help the incredible Lebanese people rebuild their country. In so doing we contribute to keeping the region safe and keeping the UK safe too."
