An uncertain future for Syrian refugees in Lebanon: The challenges of life in exile and the barriers to return

The impact of the eight-year long Syrian conflict has been felt by millions of civilians forced into exile from their country. For the estimated 1.5 million Syrians in Lebanon, life has largely continued in a state of limbo, with some longing to return home while others wishing to remain out of fear of persecution back in Syria. In either case, the majority are still caught in a precarious existence and in desperate need of stability, security and basic services. An uncertain future for Syrian refugees in Lebanon: The challenges of life in exile and the barriers to return explores the situation of the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon today and the difficult choices that lie ahead of them, as well as the complex effects of their presence on Lebanese politics and the country’s delicate communal framework.