Dignity for displaced women and girls in Lebanon

Syrian Refugees and Beirut Blast

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

As the first anniversary of the deadly Beirut explosion approaches, life has only become more unbearable for millions of Lebanese people who have seen their living conditions deteriorate, forcing some of them to leave the country. The human cost of the economic and political crisis in Lebanon is causing one third of Lebanese children to go to bed hungry and most households are short on food. Rabih Torbay, CEO and President of Project HOPE, who visited Beirut less than 24 hours after the port explosion and whose family still resides in Lebanon, warns the country is running out of chances if no solutions are found:

"Almost one year ago, a giant blast sent a shock wave through Beirut, bringing death, destruction, and fear about a future that was already grim. Twelve months later, the whole country has been brought to its knees with more than half of the population living in poverty.

"Lebanon has become a living nightmare of surreal proportions. The country now has one of the lowest minimum wages in the world, standing at 675,000 Lebanese pounds, which is barely 30 dollars. This is two times less than the monthly minimum wage in the Central African Republic (USD63) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (USD55).

"Today, a large majority of Lebanese are surviving by relying on their families living abroad to send money or bring them basic items like medicines, hygiene products, and even baby diapers. Soon, families will no longer be able to afford or even find medicines at all, as the government is slowly lifting the subsidies on key goods. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart conditions are struggling to get their treatment, increasing the likelihood of health complications and death.

"Hospitals' shelves have been left empty, oxygen is lacking, power cuts are lasting longer, and doctors are leaving the country. Lebanon's health facilities are facing a catastrophe, and this will only get worse if cases of COVID-19 continue to increase. 

"The possibility of Lebanon turning into a 'failed state' is becoming truer with each passing day. Lebanon needs international assistance more than ever. Yet, this will not be enough as long as solutions are not found within the country. Lebanon must break with its endemic political incapacity because the country is already running out of chances."

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

• Following the Beirut port explosion, our project to provide trauma care and psychosocial support. Till this day, it continues to provide immediate assistance through the procurement and distribution of medicines, medical supplies, disaster health kits and personal protective equipment. 
• We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.
• Naba’a provided cash assistance for 650 family distributed as 777 in Borj Hammoud and 58 in khandaa along with distributing disinfection / hygiene kits for 1050 families in Beirut and south. Where 150 families in Ein EL Helwi, El Buss, Burj Al shamali and Rachidie camps received hygiene kits in addition to 900 families in Beirut. As for food kits, 225 families in Mie and Mie area and Saida al Balad have provided with Food kits as well as 75 families in Ein El Helwe. Whereas, 435 families in Beirut have received food kits and distributed as 306 families in Khandaa in 900 in Borj Hammoud.
• Our humanitarian response to the tragic blast focuses on the most vulnerable in the community and on different major areas: shelter with emergency housing repairs and protection with mental health and psychosocial support.
• Nabaa’ participated in the rapid assessment for 1400 shelters. In addition to the Internal referral for 20 cases from Nabaa team who are working in Borj Hammoud area about other issues as gender Based violence, psychosocial, interventions, cash assistance, livelihood sector, education sector. 392 out of 751 are children, whereas 169 are youth and 190 are elderly taking into consideration 5 people with disability. Adding to this, 570 are Lebanese and 181 are foreigners.

• The division of the groups of children's sessions were according to age (6-14):

-Art therapy sessions for children aged 6 to 10 years

- Psychosocial support "sessions for children "She deals or “I deal with awareness sessions for girls and boys from 11 to 14 years old

- Psychosocial support sessions for all age groups

• 100 children were targeted, divided into groups according to social and psychological needs. The psychologist referred 30 new children for individual follow-up.

Case Study;

Case Code; R11

Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

The symbol is MA

Date of birth: 1982

Gender: Female

Nationality: Syrian

- Number of family members: 7 (two girls and three boys)

About her life :

The woman lives with her family of 7, two girls and three boys, and her husband in a small rented home. They used to live in Syria but after the war, they left Syria and flee to Lebanon. However, they did not find a decent life where some were bullying them, which made her feel stressed and tense. After they moved from one area to another, they finally settled in Burj Hammoud area, they remained in the area for months before the explosion broke out, as they were financially and psychologically affected. One of her children (10 years) didn’t face any psychological issues until the explosion occurred. After the explosion, he started having hearing problems, fearing everything, and urinary incontinence. This had a negative impact on the mother that led her to cry all day long.

They left the old house due to the destruction took place after Beirut’s blast and moved to a small house. The mother suffers from psychological problems, such as insomnia and eating disorders. Their psychological condition is not stable.

Economic situation:

The economic situation is execrable. They can’t afford purchasing the most basic needs for the children, including food, water, and house rent. Their situation is appalling, especially after Port of Beirut explosion. They also do not have any furniture in the house. They sleep on old mattresses on the floor, they do not have an electricity or internet connection because they cannot pay for these supplies, and the power only comes for two hours. So, during the daylight, the family members use a candle instead of power.

Health status:

The case lived under pressure due to the traumas that she had experienced. She also has two children who are suffering from urinary incontinence. This leads to an even worse economic situation. As she can’t meet the health needs of diapers or medicine.

Social status:

Social status is fine in the family. There are no problems between the mother and her spouse, or even with the neighbors. On the contrary, the neighbors like and defend them, especially when the landlord threatens to evict them. The neighbors didn’t allow such incident to happen, and talked to the owner to give them some time to pay rent.

The issues she suffers from:

Economic problems: expelling the family from the house - their inability to meet the needs of the house, such as food, drink, clothing, or even medicine.

Psychological problems, the most important of which are: insomnia, eating disorders, sadness, anxiety, fear, self-blame.

Intervention:

• Home visits to consolidate the relationship

• Transfer to cash assistance to pay the rent and was assisted with amount of $ 150

• Giving the family food assistance (food parcels – hygiene kits)

• Individual psychological support activities to alleviate the stress

• Psychological support activities to be shared with local community

-       Transfer the case to a psychologist in order to release stress

Recommendations:

-       Follow up on psychological support sessions and awareness sessions

-       Follow-up on psychosocial support activities

-       Follow up with a psychologist

-       Follow up on her children psychologically

-       Home visit

-       Transfer children to psychological support activities

Links:

• Naba'a Website

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

Lebanon’s political, economic, and social dynamics have a significant impact on the rights, health and overall wellbeing of the child within its territory. Despite the fact that Lebanon has reconstructed its government institutions, its health and social services, as well as its infrastructure to a large extent in recent decades, the country’s turbulent political history continues to impact the current unstable political climate, the poor governance, the socio-economic inequalities, as well as the treatment of refugee communities and other vulnerable groups. These underlying realities heavily influence the rights and wellbeing of the child in Lebanon, not solely when it comes to protection and the provision of adequate services, but further in terms of discrimination, violence, and safety. Comprehending the political history and ongoing political landscape in Lebanon is important whilst designing and implementing effective child-centered initiatives, programs and projects.

The ineffectuality of the country’s services increases economic disparities and vulnerability, and also further perpetuates families’ needs to resort to sending their children to work. With economic and financial stressors adding up, as well as the drastic devaluation in the Lebanese currency, poverty in Lebanon is likely to continue to worsen in 2021. UNESCWA estimates anticipate that as of 2021, more than 55% of the country's population trapped in poverty and struggling for bare necessities.

Poverty in Lebanon is concerted in specific regions, primarily in Baalbek and surrounding villages of the Beqaa, as well as in Akkar in North Lebanon, and a number of heavily populated Beirut suburbs as urban-based poverty continues to be on the rise.Based on ESCWA’s 2021 report, “Poverty in Lebanon: Impact of Multiple Shocks and Call for Solidarity,” women and children are mostly vulnerable to fluctuation in the accessibility of affordable social services. As stated earlier, the majority of basic social services in Lebanon are privatized, including 90% of primary health care, over 50% of schools, and 30% of drinking water. Moreover, due to the overall weakness of public services, a culture of clientelism based on partisan politics, personal connection, political, and sectarian affiliation governs the provision of social and welfare services to the general public.

Main Achievements; 

- NABA’A worked on three projects centered around women empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV).

- The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Child Protection (CP), Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and intervention services in the Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon targeted beneficiaries located in Ein El-Helweh and Burj El-Shemali camps, engaging them in multiple activities designed to build skills, strengthen resilience, support the cognitive, social, and motor skills of children and youth (mostly females), and improve parenting skills, among others. As a result, girls, women, and children were empowered, acquired new knowledge, and enhanced their skills. Some of the project’s main results are listed in Figure 5.

- A second project targeted different areas in the North of Lebanon where unemployment rates were specifically high, including villages in Akkar, one of Lebanon's poorest regions. Under this project, seven trainings were conducted for adolescent girls as shown in Figure 6. Consequently, a committee comprised of socially active women and girls aged between 18 and 25 years old and residing in Muhammarah area in the North was formed. The committee focused on defending women's rights, encouraging women's involvement in political action, providing women and girls with a safe platform to speak up freely, and forming a permanent committee in collaboration with the local municipality to address issues of concern.

• Around 3020 Youth and adolescents (70% females) involved in the life skills program including different topics such as (Communication skills, leader ship skills, how to protect themselves from abuse, reproductive health, peer to peer, human rights, child rights, women rights, etc…).
• Nabaa’ provided inclusive education for 3210 boys and girls of school age (6-12 years) in the Palestinian camps and Syrian gatherings in Lebanon (Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Nabatieh) “In line with UNRWA's educational reform and MEHE curriculum to support the education of refugees children from Syria, Palestinians or Syrians.
• Children and women have been targeted in psychosocial activities as the following, 3051 children (males and females)and 550 parents most of them are women, including, vulnerable Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Whereas, in Borj Al Shamali camp 555 children (males and females and 220 parents including (Lebanese, Syrian Refugees and Palestinian refugees).
• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

Case Study;

1. Code: R1
2. Date of birth: 2003
3. Nationality: Syrian
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: self-harm,   isolation, psychological stress
7. Risk level: High

             I.        The Social Status of the Beneficiary

Married

Divorced

Widow

X

Number of children

male

female

0

0

0

Notes: The beneficiary is currently married to someone else and has no children.

            II.        The educational level of the beneficiary

Illiterate   Elementary   Intermediate   High school   University

Professional/Technical

           III.        Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: Stitching

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Landlord Rent hosted   tent
4. Number of rooms:2
5. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: Thebeneficiary and her husband live with her parents and her siblings

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as the family of 8 members live in a house consisting of only 2 rooms which lacks the basic home furnishings.

          IV.        Health/psychological situation:

Beneficiary

Family

Is there any impairment/disability (blindness, autism...)?  

No

Are there any physical disabilities?

No

Are there any medications that the beneficiary takes on an ongoing basis?

No

Is there a previous psychological preview?

No

Is there a neuropathy?

No

Does the beneficiary undergo any type of drug abuse?

No

 The method of spotting the case:

The beneficiary’s case was observed during her participation in awareness sessions, covering topics related to gender-based violence (GBV).

- Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of girls aged 14-20), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from, as she was forcibly ordered by her father to marry a man when she was 15 years old. This early marriage shortly led to family problems and complications including constant insults to her by the husband's parents, leading her to divorce few months after her marriage.

Moreover, after her divorce, she received insults from her own family who considers divorce as a shame and a social defect, where the mother told her, "You are just a divorced girl and so you are with us to serve us."

All that has been addressed and said to her had led to the emergence of high-risk psychological symptoms.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders

- Nail biting

- Hair cutting (self-torture for revenge)

- Harming her body by cutting off her wrists and arms

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone and home visit.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Social intervention:

• Integrate in PSS activities with groups of participants of her age to improve her social life and work on her social skills to remove "isolation" symptom

• Awareness sessions about three main topics:

Topics

Aim of each topic

Early marriage

- know that ''Early Marriage" is a kind of violence

- Reasons of early marriage and its consequences on girls on different aspects (physical, psychological, social…)

- The role she can play as "Girl" to stop this Marriage

- Mechanisms to reduce early marriage

Gender-based violence

- The aim is to define the different kinds of violence

- Reasons and consequences of violence,

- Realize that gender inequality is the root cause of gender-based violence

- Stages of problem solving based on problem-solving and decision- making methodology.

Gender versus sex

- To aware about the equity and gender equality,

- Analyze the consequences of gender discrimination,

- To know the role of girls in promoting equal rights and responsibilities

Reproductive health sessions

Puberty

Ovarian cycle

Routine hygiene and care of the sensitive area

• Psychosocial support sessions (SHE DEAL sessions) how to deal with risks,

Attending the PSS sessions allows her distinguish between positive and negative emotions and cognitions that follow each of the two kinds of emotions, also to let her know her internal and external resources to support them and shield lights on how to use them in daily life events positively to improve self-esteem and self-confidence

• Art therapy sessions (fears and sources of strength, your position in society, expression of emotions)

Psychological intervention:

Number of psychological sessions :

Three sessions – weekly attending

Objectives:

- Refer to the psychiatrist (due to the presence of the following symptoms (eating and sleeping disorders, isolation, self-harming)

- Build confidential relationship with the psychologist

- High self- confidence, and self esteem

- Make her relationship with her friend(as an external resource) stronger to make her participate in different activities together in order to stop the social isolation

- Shed lights and support her internal resources (strength points) and how to use them in a right way

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself (awareness sessions, art therapy sessions, social psychological support sessions).

Links:

• Naba'a Website