THE EUROPEAN UNION STANDS WITH LEBANON #INDEEDS

When the effects of the conflict in neighbouring Syria on Lebanon became evident in 2012, the European Union reacted promptly to stand alongside Lebanon. The significantly increased number of people in Lebanon put a heavy burden on the Lebanese communities and infrastructure, which were had already been under strain prior to the Syrian crisis. In order to alleviate some of the pressure in Syria's neighbouring countries, large funds have been engaged, including in Lebanon, where the support is benefitting vulnerable Lebanese communities and refugees from Syria alike.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the European Commission has allocated around €790 million in assistance to vulnerable Lebanese communities and refugees from Syria:

  • €356 million for humanitarian assistance from ECHO, the Directorate General of the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (basic assistance, protection, food security, shelter and non-food items)
  • €247 million from the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) mainly to enhance capacities of and support to Lebanese institutions at central and local levels, in the provision of basic services (health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene) to Lebanese vulnerable communities and Syrian refugees and Palestinian refugees from Syria
  • €142 million from the MADAD Regional Trust Fund to address longer-term resilience needs of refugees from Syria and support Lebanese communities by increasing access to education and training, as well as improving livelihoods, water, hygiene and sanitation and health services
  • €42 million from the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) to address longer term resilience needs of affected civilians, both Lebanese and refugee communities.

OBJECTIVES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SUPPORT

  • We protect and assist vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Syria
  • We help Lebanon mitigate the impact of the crisis by addressing the medium and long-term needs of both vulnerable Lebanese and refugees from Syria
  • We support the most vulnerable municipalities in improving their infrastructure and economic recovery
  • We contribute to the provision of basic services such as free public education, primary and secondary health care, child and women protection, psychosocial support as well water, sanitation and hygiene
  • We reinforce the policy dialogue with the Lebanese Government and the capacities of existing Lebanese institutions responsible for managing the crisis, at national and local levels

All EU-funded actions are aligned with the priorities identified in the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan. The assistance ismainly implemented through UN agencies and Lebanese and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Lebanese municipalities. Substantial efforts are made to ensure close coordination and increased involvement of the Lebanese Government and local authorities, as well as other Lebanese stakeholders such as NGOs, academia and the private sector in theresponse. One of the crucial elements of the response has been the partnership among international, national and local actors.

Our support has yielded promising results. Scroll though the sectors to see what we have achieved through our funding so far.

EDUCATION

HEALTH

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Protection

Humanitarian ASSISTANCE

BUILDING CAPACITY IN PARTNERSHIP

  • Education is the main area of intervention for the EU's support to Lebanon in dealing with the consequences of the Syrian conflict. For the period 2012-2016, the EU has committed around €160 million to support access to formal and non-formal education of Syrian and Palestinian children from Syria children as well as the capacities of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). The focus is on support through Lebanese public schools, and for pre-school activities and youth programmes. While the focus is on access and retention in the formal education (1st shift and 2nd shift) there is also a substantial non-formal education programme (accelerated learning programme, remedial classes, basic numeracy and literacy classes). The education activities assist Syrian as well as Lebanese children. EU funds are also used for the rehabilitation of schools, training of teachers, awareness raising activities, the provision of educational supplies and the financing of second shift classes. Educational support activities will continue into the coming school year 2016-2017, funded through the MADAD Regional Trust Fund.



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  • The EU is providing substantial assistance to the public health sector under various instruments for approximately €88 million, in response to the consequences of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon. EU funding contributesto supporting the Lebanese authorities' ability to meet basic health needs of the vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian populations.

    EU funding has provided for adequate medical supplies to 218 Primary Health Care Centres, affordable consultations and health awareness sessions, routine vaccines and related medical equipment and medication regardless of nationality, gender and age. Primary Health Care Centres also stock up their chronic medications through EU funding.

    The humanitarian department of the European Commission, the Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) is supporting access for Syrian refugees to secondary health care and covering lifesaving medical and surgical cases.

    Additional support will be provided through the MADAD Regional Trust Fund to improve access to primary health care at community level.



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  • In many parts of the country hosting the refugees has stretched the economic and social resources of the Lebanese communities which already suffered from poverty. The large number has also increased the demand for water and solid waste management. In the solid waste, water and waste water sectors, the EU is thus currently financing infrastructure projects worth approx. 159 Million Euros. The EU is improving the access of vulnerable people to clean and safe potable water and improved sanitation infrastructure. With EU funding, amongst others, solid waste treatment facilities and landfills were constructed, water supply networks were built or rehabilitated, water springs cleaned and better protected, water tanks established, artisan wells installed, water pumping stations funded, irrigation canals built and rehabilitated, wastewater infrastructure built or enhanced and institutional support provided to the Lebanese government.



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  • EU’s support seeks to strengthen the Lebanese public institutions in providing social services to the most vulnerable people in the country, including refugees. This support aims at assisting the existing Lebanese institutions to deal with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis for Lebanon and to ensure access to protection services for the most vulnerable. Since 2014, the EU has partnered with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and UNICEF to establish and implement the "National Plan to Safeguard Children and Women in Lebanon" (October 2014). Under this plan, the EU has provided more than 20 ML EUR in service provisions and direct support to MoSA. These funds strengthened the existing capacities of MoSA and the Social Development Centres (SDCs). Protection areas for children could be improved, support in the areas of gender-based violence and health could be enhanced. Ultimately, the aim is to improve referral mechanisms in Lebanese institutions and to mitigate the risk of vulnerability facing those most marginalised.

    The EU support has also focused on reinforcing the capacities of respective communities, including municipalities and associated civil society organisations, to conduct inclusive, conflict-sensitive participatory processes with host communities to identify key changes, risks, and sources of tensions at the local level.

    In its humanitarian response, ECHO, the Directorate General of the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection has maintained a pivotal focus on protection of Syrian refugees, both on advocacy and assistance, to ensure improvements in the status of the refugees. To respond to the increasingly negative trend of the protection situation of refugees, since 2012 ECHO has contributed €32.3 million to the protection sector to address the needs of refugees impacted by the political limitations of legal status as well as violence and exploitation. Interventions include legal counselling and assistance, specialised services to survivors of violence, community-based protection structures and referral mechanisms in order to reach a higher number of vulnerable refugees.

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  • Since 2012, the European Commission has provided €269.1 million in humanitarian funding in Lebanon to respond to the Syria crisis. Humanitarian assistance has reached 750,000 individuals focusing on the most vulnerable refugees, living in the worst housing conditions or with the highest socio-economic vulnerability. EU humanitarian funding has mostly contributed to: cash assistance so that the most vulnerable people can meet their basic needs, secondary healthcare for lifesaving cases, protection and shelter (including water and sanitation) to improve the living conditions of families living in substandard dwellings. Protection remains a critical sector in terms of counselling and legal assistance and service to survivors of violence.



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  • The European Union’s support seeks to strengthen Lebanese public institutions in providing social services (e.g. education, health, child protection) to the most vulnerable people in the country. We aim at building and enhancing the capacity of existing Lebanese institutions at national and local levels, to deal with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis for Lebanon and to empower local communities socially and economically by ensuring sufficient access to services for the most vulnerable. The activities funded by the EU in this respect are aligned with priorities identified through structured dialogues held with broad groups of civil society organisations and local authorities.



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عربي

PARTNERS

All EU-funded actions are aligned with the priorities identified in the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan. The EU funded assistance is mainly implemented through UN agencies and Lebanese and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and local authorities. Substantial efforts are made to ensure close coordination and increased involvement of the Government of Lebanon and local administrations, as well as other Lebanese stakeholders such as NGOs and the private sector in the response. One of the crucial elements of the response has been the partnership among international, national and local actors.

GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

INTERNATIONAL NGOs

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LEBANESE NGOs

The information set out in this microsite covers the activities of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Lebanon in light of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon, from its beginning up until January 2017. Neither the European Union nor any of its partners may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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