Beirut, 12 November 2021 (TDI): The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdullah Bouhabib, met with the Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Scaenas. In the meeting, they addressed the conditions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Additionally, officials addressed Lebanon’s efforts to confront this crisis in terms of economic, health and social aspects. Likewise, representatives highlighted the impact of illegal immigration that the European Union suffers. Therefore, the parties agreed to increase cooperation and coordination in order to solve common issues.
The status of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
In the past September, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) declared its concern about the rapid deterioration in the living conditions. The declaration included the preliminary findings of the 2021 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR).
The Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR) was conducted jointly by UNHCR, WFP, and UNICEF. It is the ninth version of the annual survey. Consequently, the full report will be published in December 2021.
The Assessment covered the socio-economic impact of Syrian families in the country. According to the Agency, nine out of ten Syrian refugees still living in extreme poverty. In this regard, the vast majority of refugees opted for coping strategies to survive, such as begging, borrowing money, not sending their children to school, reducing health expenses, or not paying rent.
Moreover, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, Yukie Mokuo, said: “The escalating crisis in Lebanon is putting the most vulnerable children at risk (…) including sending their children to work in often dangerous and hazardous conditions, marrying off their young daughters or using violent discipline”.
The situation in Lebanon has affected all populations in the country. This targeted group includes Lebanese, refugees, migrants, and others. While VASyR specifically looks at the Syrian refugee population, UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF are working with the Lebanese authorities. The organizations are analyzing the impact of the situation on vulnerable populations, and all three agencies continue providing lifesaving assistance to Lebanese communities to help them cope with the challenging situation.