Mission Report, Lebanon, September 2016

As of May 2016, Lebanon hosts 1.5 million Syrian refugees, some 1.05 million that are registered with UNHCR. The mass influx of has placed an unprecedented strain on the economy, public services and infrastructures, as well as, on social relations within the country. Since 2015, there has been a deepening vulnerability of many of the refugees, weakening their ability to cover basic needs and putting them at an increased risk of exploitation, abuse and violations. This is only further coupled with the introduction of new border procedures and policy by the Government of Lebanon, which has likely forced many into an uncertain legal status, further impacting their legal stay in the country and access to services. The high numbers of those affected by these factors, coupled with their needs largely outweighs and surpass the capacity of humanitarian actors to respond, both physically and financially, with ECHO's response also not able to sufficiently cover all of the most urgent needs[1].

Due to this, life-saving activities were prioritised as a key focus for the HIP 2016, requiring partners to clearly demonstrate systemic solutions to identified problems in order to ensure the widest coverage possible to assist the most vulnerable, within a framework of cost effectiveness and efficiency. This includes a focus on Protection, Basic Assistance, Health, WASH and Shelter in Lebanon.

[1] OCHA, Humanitarian Overview, May 2016.

https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Syria/Lebanon%20Overview%20May%202016.pdf