Lebanon

Advocacy for Lebanon

What’s Happening? 

Lebanon is experiencing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis, exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities of the country’s Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations and plunging many Lebanese into poverty. Refugees in Lebanon have suffered from decades of discriminatory and restrictive policies, as well as the lack of access to basic rights and services. Syrian refugees are being forced to return to Syria under unsafe and unlawful conditions. Meanwhile, large numbers of refugees and Lebanese are departing Lebanon for Europe via the Mediterranean. Conditions in Lebanon are progressively exacerbated by new rounds of displacement in southern Lebanon as a result of escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel.

What Must Be Done? 

Refugees International has urged the government of Lebanon to end discrimination and mistreatment of refugees, protect their human rights, and respect their right to dignified refuge. As Lebanon grapples with the collapse of its economy, international support and cooperation is crucial to address urgent needs of both impoverished Lebanese as well as Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and build resilience. Furthermore, EU authorities must also protect the rights of all people on the move and defend their rights to dignified refuge.