Lebanon — protection

Image: Plan International

In recent years, Lebanon has faced compounding crises. As in many countries around the world, COVID-19 had significant economic and health impacts, further pushing vulnerable populations into poverty. On top of this, the Beirut Port Explosion in August 2020, one of the world’s largest non-nuclear explosions, destroyed large parts of the capital, including some 300,000 homes.

A currency and banking crisis rocked the economy, with the Lebanese currency losing more than 85% of its value over an 18-month period, sending the costs of food and essential items skyrocketing and wiping out families’ savings. According to UNHCR, between October 2019 and June 2021, the cost of food in Lebanon increased by 404 per cent.

Lebanon was also estimated to host to one of the largest per-capita populations of Syrian refugees, as the crisis continued into its 12th year. This group continues to be especially vulnerable, facing high levels of extreme poverty, food insecurity, and a lack of suitable housing. Economic pressure forced refugee families to adopt negative coping strategies, such as keeping children out of school, arranging child marriages or engaging in child labour.

Women and girls were still disproportionately exposed to various types of gender-based violence (GBV) in the community. According to the country’s GBV records, physical assault and psychological/emotional abuse were the most reported types of GBV in January-March 2023, accounting for 35% and 32% of all reported incidents respectively. Child mothers, early married girls, unaccompanied and separated girls, women and girls with disabilities, older women, and female heads of households continue to be the most at risk.

Cultural and social norms contribute to the normalization of GBV and discouraged women and girls from seeking help or reporting incidents. Children were experiencing heightened risk of violence, and some are separated from their families or have lost their caregivers.

The AHP Response

Above: A video showing some highlights from AHP protection work in Lebanon between 2021-2023.

The AHP Response to the Lebanon economic crisis focused on two key areas: protection and livelihoods/winterisation. This built on an earlier AHP response in Lebanon between 2017 and 2021.

The livelihoods/winterisation component was completed in early 2023, while work on protection finished in October 2024 with the support of the Australian Government.

Plan International Australia led on the protection area, in partnership with International Medical Corps and local NGOs Himaya (2021-2023) and Mouvement Sociale (2023-2024).

The deepening economic crisis put children, girls and women, people with disability, and refugees at greater risk of abuse, violence and exploitation. The AHP response addressed immediate protection needs of vulnerable groups through gender-based violence and child protection services, community education, case management, cash for protection, and emergency assistance, while also working on prevention strategies at the individual and community levels to address root causes of violence.

Response highlights

• Implementing partners strategically coordinated with local organisations to ensure a community-centred, relevant and effective approach. Mouvement Sociale’s collaboration with Social Development Centres in Akkar, Saida and Al Mouwasat increased community engagement in program activities, ensuring community members were well-informed about the evolving referral mechanisms. IMC also coordinated with local NGOs in the referral of child protection cases to ensure a comprehensive and responsive delivery of services. These collaborations are helping to ensure the sustainability of program interventions.

• In the early stages of the project, Mouvement Sociale established a valuable partnership with the Al Moasat organisation - a not-for-profit in Saida that provides services and support for vulnerable groups in the community without discrimination. The partnership was instrumental in referring children to participate in project activities and extending the project’s reach to children with disabilities.

• AHP partners implemented a comprehensive approach for survivors of gender-based violence, incorporating case management, psychosocial support, health and mental health services, along with coordination with other service providers. The holistic approach to case management garnered positive feedback from program participants. For example, one survivor shared that, thanks to her action plan and goals, she improved her relationship with her husband and children. Emphasising the importance of being respected by her family, she noticed positive changes in their treatment of her, leading to a heightened sense of empowerment and self-worth. Another survivor reported that, due to the action plan and continuous support, she gained self-confidence, learned to love and appreciate herself, and started trusting people, ultimately forming new connections.

• Emotional support sessions were delivered in Saida as part of the response. In the sessions, participants were provided with the opportunity to freely express their feelings through artistic expression on canvas. The canvas became a platform for them to convey a spectrum of emotions, particularly when illustrating past experiences or deeply felt sentiments. Following the completion of their artwork, facilitated discussions revolved around the themes depicted in each drawing. This phase aimed to facilitate a deeper exploration of participants' thoughts and encourage the sharing of personal experiences. 

  The overarching goal of these emotional support sessions was to enrich the well-being of participants and bolster their resilience in the face of challenges. By fostering a positive and open environment, the sessions empowered participants to employ constructive measures and strategies in navigating life's obstacles.