Stories from the Field 02Public nomination

Protecting the Life and Dignity of Displaced Syrian Refugees
—UNHCR Activities in Lebanon—

Refugees in the snow carrying mats and blankets provided by UNHCR as winterization assistance (Photo: UNHCR)

Mr. Ito (center), UNHCR representative in Lebanon, visiting a refugee family’s shelter and asking about their daily needs and difficulties (Photo: UNHCR)

More than a decade has passed since the Syrian crisis began in 2011. While the international community’s attention is shifting to humanitarian crises in other regions, many Syrian refugees are still unable to return home and are uncertain even about their lives for tomorrow. Among those, 90% of the Syrian refugees staying in the neighboring country of Lebanon Note 1 live in poverty and face many hardships.

One of the biggest challenges there is securing safe and comfortable shelters. Refugees, who live in apartments, houses, and rented spaces in shops and warehouses, face issues such as privacy, safety, and deterioration of the buildings. Refugees who rent shelters on their own with a contract may face a forced eviction if they are unable to pay the rent due to poverty. In addition, the winter in Lebanon is very harsh, with temperatures often dropping below zero. Therefore, improving the living conditions is a priority in order to protect the life and dignity of each refugee.

In response to the difficulties facing those Syrian refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the support of the Government of Japan, distributes materials necessary for shelter reinforcement and repairs for waterproofing, wind proofing, and privacy enhancement, while also supporting infrastructure development such as drainage systems. UNHCR also distributes winterization items to protect the lives of refugees from the severe cold, such as high thermal blankets, waterproof sheets, sleeping bags, and warm clothes for winter.

Furthermore, as part of efforts to protect refugees, UNHCR provides support for the establishment and operation of community centers. These community centers, accessed by both refugees and the people from the host communities, provide various programs and services such as English and computer lessons, vocational training, and activities for security, and health and hygiene awareness. The community centers also accept individual consultations for problems that arise in daily life. Support is continuously given to people in need in order to ensure that all people in the community, including refugees, can live in peace and in harmony.

Over a decade on since the outbreak of the crisis, the needs for humanitarian assistance have diversified in Lebanon. Mr. ITO Ayaki, UNHCR representative in Lebanon, emphasizes that, “I sincerely hope that the international community will not forget this country facing various crises, and that safe and dignified lives for all communities are secured, including the people of Lebanon, refugees, and migrants. UNHCR is with people in Lebanon.” UNHCR will continue to provide assistance to ensure the safety of refugees and protect their rights while maintaining close contact and cooperation with the Government of Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces, police, media, NGOs, UN agencies, academia, and embassies in Lebanon.

Note 1: Lebanon is one of the countries with the highest number of refugees per capita. Of the refugee population, the number of Syrian refugees is approximately 810,000 (as of December 2022), which together with Palestinian refugees is said to account for 25-30% of the Lebanese population.