Under Pressure: The Impact of the Syrian Refugee Crisis on Host Communities in Lebanon: Advocacy Report

In the last two years, more than half a million people have fled into Lebanon from the conflict currently raging in Syria. The vast majority are living amongst Lebanese communities, staying with relatives or friends, renting accommodation, residing in empty shops and buildings or pitching tents on privately owned land. Host communities have often demonstrated enormous generosity for new arrivals, welcoming them into their homes, sharing key resources (water, electricity etc) and accepting their rights to access health and education services within the community. However, as the crisis has dragged on the strain on local communities in Lebanon is becoming unbearable. The initial welcoming attitude of many is turning to anger. Many people now feel that their communities are becoming dangerously overcrowded; basic services, such as schools and health clinics, are struggling to cope with the additional demand; security is deteriorating and many people see no end in sight to the current crisis. The presence of so many refugees threatens to destabilise an already fragile and volatile situation. Many communities have reported feeling close to breaking point.

This report aims to shed light on the impact that the enormous influx of refugees from Syria is having on hosting communities in Lebanon. It seeks to capture the perceptions of host community members about how their lives, including the lives of children in Lebanon, have been impacted by the arrival of the refugee population. It will investigate the role that the national and international response has played in alleviating or exacerbating these impacts, and make specific recommendations for humanitarian, development and advocacy agencies involved in this response. Case studies are included throughout to highlight the human impact of the current crisis for communities in Lebanon.