Responding to the Tensions between Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Host Communities of Zahle District in Lebanon (original) (raw)

Syrian Refugees and Social Cohesion in Jordan

2019

Farming plays an instrumental role in Jordan's society, a field that has brought together Jordanian and Syrian workers. This report highlights Jordanian farmer views of their Syrian colleagues, the nature of social ties, and integration between them. The findings of this report are based on three focus groups conducted in al-Ghor region of Jordan’s Balqa governorate in late December 2018 by the WANA Institute, in partnership with al-Karamah Charity Association.

The Impact of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon

One of the most dramatic consequences of the Syrian civil war has been the massive displacement of civilians in and outside of Syria. Syrian refugees now constitute more than a quarter of the population in Lebanon. Although the government declared a policy of disassociation – a policy of professed neutrality regarding Syria – this has been undermined due to the presence of a plethora of actors with differing interests. Refugee flow has had severe impacts on national security and the economy, leading to further destabilization in Lebanon. The refugee flow has placed a serious burden on public services delivery including education, healthcare, housing, sanitation, water, and electricity, as well as on physical infrastructure which has lacked adequate capacity. Labor competition and the feeling that Syrians receive different financial treatment has generated ambivalent attitutes and resentments among locals. Both government and public concerns regarding the Syrian crisis and refugees may increase sectarian volatility and deepen pre-existing tensions due to the long and tortured history of Syria-Lebanon relations and increasing involvement of Hezbollah in Syria. One extreme risk might be the militarization of refugees. A strong government and regional/international support are vital for Lebanon to ensure stability in such a destabilizing situation.

Regional differences in the conditions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Lebanon Support and Civil Society Knowledge Center, 2014

Lebanon has entered its third year as a country hosting the highest number of Syrian refugees in the region. All geographical areas with a high concentration of Syrian refugees in Lebanon share a similar protracted marginality, underdevelopment, and weak infrastructure. Syrian refugees experience different levels of legal and political conditions, security and protection, freedom of mobility, access to aid and relief services, access to labor, socio-economic conditions, and prices of goods and rent, all depending on their geographical settlements. These geographical differences are of eminent relevance that affects not only the Syrian refugees and their hosting communities, but also refugee policies and aid programs. This paper explores these variations by analyzing, first, differences among host communities and, second, by examining the dissimilarities among geographic settlements. The paper reveals that the conditions of Syrian refugees depend on the geographical areas of their settlement within Lebanon. Host-refugee relations also show a direct relationship to the variant geographical areas and their sociodemographic compositions. This paper concludes that geographical differences are of vital importance to be considered when studying the living conditions of refugees, developing policies, or designing aid programs.

World Food Programme Multi- Purpose Cash Assistance in Lebanon Social Cohesion and Stability Between Syrian Refugees and Host Communities

2020

This study was carried out with the generous support to CAMEALEON from UK Aid from the UK government, European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of these governments, and findings of this report do not necessarily reflect or align with WFP's position. The research was conceptualised in collaboration with the World Food Programme and other members of the multipurpose cash programme steering committee. Finally, the authors would like to thank all the respondents of this study who gave their valuable time to answer questions and share their, often, harrowing stories. Our thoughts are with you all. CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .

Refugee and Demographic Change: Syrian Refugee in Lebanon and the Rise of the New Conflict

2019

The aim of this paper is to examine the influx of Syrian refugee flow and how it affects the population and shapes the demographic changes in Lebanon. Over the years, the demographic balance in Lebanon was determined by the sectarian balance which managed through its confessional proportional political system. The massive exodus of Syrian refugee in Lebanon has changed the country’s demographic composition in which majority of Syrian refugee comes from Moslem Sunni. Thus, it challenges the other groups of Christian Maronite, Moslem Shia, and Druze that fears for the loss of their predominance in Lebanon. This paper argues that the presence of Syrian refugee has challenged the sectarian balance in Lebanon. This unbalanced condition has further endangered Lebanon security and exacerbated its stability and placed both refugees and Lebanese into serious violent conflict. Thus, the condition further challenges the human security aspect for both disputed parties. Key words: Refugee, Demog...