Lebanon Stabilization and Recovery Programme

Lebanon Stabilization and Recovery Programme

March 26, 2020

More than one million Syrians and Palestinians have crossed the border with Lebanon over the past three years, fleeing from the unbearable suffering brought by the war. They live within Lebanese communities across the country, but are primarily concentrated in deprived areas of the North and the Bekaa Valley. Refugees now constitute over a quarter of the pre-crisis population, making Lebanon the country with the highest per capita concentration of refugees worldwide.

Lebanon has kept its borders open, and the Lebanese people have shown remarkable solidarity. But the burden on host communities is enormous, and is felt in Lebanon more than in any other country. Impact assessments, such as the one conducted jointly by the UN and the World Bank, point to increased strain on basic services (such as education, health, water and sanitation, and waste collection), as well as growing competition for jobs and sources of income. Tensions and frustration are increasing among host communities, who feel neglected in the face of international support perceived to be exclusively earmarked for refugees.

In collaboration with the Lebanese authorities, UN agencies, NGOs and international donors, UNDP is implementing a comprehensive programme to support Lebanese communities hosting Syrians and Palestinian refugees from Syria. Our objective is to boost the resilience of these communities by strengthening local service infrastructure, creating opportunities for rapid employment and income generation, and supporting existing mechanisms for peaceful coexistence.

We also work with key national institutions to strengthen their capacity to manage the crisis, with the aim of promoting long- term stability. The extent of the crisis in Lebanon is exceptional and requires sustained support from the international community. No country should ever be asked to carry such burden alone.

Document Type
Regions and Countries