*Mariam participating in Concern’s non-formal education programme that focuses on early childhood education in Akkar, north Lebanon. Photo: Chantale Fahmi/Concern Worldwide 2017.

Lebanon

Why are we in Lebanon? We became operational in Lebanon in 2013 following a massive influx of refugees from Syria. We have been responding ever since to the increasing humanitarian needs of the estimated 1.5 million vulnerable Syrian refugees and the overstretched local host communities in the Akkar and North governorates of Lebanon.

*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Lebanon. Find out more about our response here.

Lebanon has the highest concentration of refugees in the world

With the war in Syria now in its tenth year, Lebanon, already home to almost 7 million people, hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Many are competing with vulnerable Lebanese people for affordable housing, decent work, and services. The worsening economic crisis, combined with COVID-19, has forced families to make difficult decisions to survive. Many families are falling deeper into debt as livelihood opportunities are decreasing dramatically, and public and private services fail to respond to people’s needs. This leads families to adopt negative strategies such as child labour, child marriage, and reduced food consumption.

Latest achievements

Shelter and WASH

As of June 2020, Concern’s COVID-19 response reached 3,098 individuals through awareness-raising sessions and distribution of hygiene kits. Concern also rehabilitated an isolation facility for COVID-19 cases.

Protection

Livelihoods

Concern staff member, Abdulrahman Rima, in a clown costume with Syrian children during Global Water Day in a playground in North Lebanon. Photo: AbdulRahman Rima / Concern Worldwide

World Water Day celebrations for Syrian children. Photo: AbdulRahman Rima / Concern Worldwide.

Concern staff organising the distribution of new tent kits (including wood, plastic sheeting etc) to families whose homes were recently burnt down. The tents are going to be built on this field, in Northern Lebanon. Photograph by Mary Turner/Panos Pictures for Concern Worldwide

A distribution of new tent kits in Northern Lebanon. Photo: Mary Turner / Concern Worldwide.

Syrian refugees planting flowers to represent the main topic of the event this year which is the link between water and nature. Photo: Nahed Mansour/Concern Worldwide.

Syrian children planting flowers on World Water Day. Photo: Nahed Mansour/Concern Worldwide.

Syrian women receive training in cheese-making at a dairy co-op in Northern Lebanon. Photo: Jason Kennedy / Concern Worldwide.

Syrian women receive training at a co-op in Lebanon. Photo: Jason Kennedy / Concern Worldwide.

In the space of just two weeks, storms ‘Norma’ and ‘Miriam’ have brought torrential rain, freezing winds and snow to Lebanon, leaving Syrian refugee settlements under flood water. Storm damage to settlements pictured. Concern staff member Amani Sahmarani distributes emergency supplies including shelter and hygiene kits to Syrian families affected by the flooding. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

A distribution of emergency supplies to Syrian families affected by floods. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

How we're helping Lebanon

We are working hard to alleviate suffering for both refugees and over-stretched host communities in Lebanon through shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene awareness, livelihoods, education, and protection activities. Every programme includes the crosscutting themes of protection, equality, and inclusion.

Latest from Lebanon

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