81305654-Peaceful coexistence in two municipalities in North Lebanon

The Project The Peaceful Coexistence in Refugee Hosting Communities in Lebanon project (PCL) seeks to improve peaceful coexistence between Syrian refugees and the host community in 10 municipalities in North Lebanon and Akkar. The approach includes needs analysis, competence and capacity building, participatory processes and local initiatives. The project is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The situation in Lebanon is characterized by a structural economic and financial crisis with a dramatic devaluation of the local currency and the lasting effects of the explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020. In addition, there is a structural government crisis, which culminated in the resignation of the government after the explosion, and the resulting dysfunctional government structures. This is accompanied by a massive loss of trust among the population in the country's economic and political elites. The interaction of these factors intensifies the existing obstacles to development and has led to an increase in socio-economic disparities, increased unemployment, increasing tensions between Lebanese population groups and between Lebanese and refugees and rapidly rising poverty rates. In the context of the Syrian crisis, Lebanon has taken in large numbers of Syrian refugees. Lebanon hosts nearly 900,000 Syrian refugees that are officially registered with UNHCR (UNHCR 2023). The actual number estimated by the Lebanese government is at around 1,500,000. Only about 16 percent of Syrian refugees have legal residency, which results in making them vulnerable to harassment, arrest, detention and deportation. In addition, around 200,000 Palestinians and around 18,500 refugees from Ethiopia, Iraq and Sudan as well as other countries live in Lebanon. The country thus has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Nine out of ten Syrian refugee families live in extreme poverty (UNHCR, 2023). The proportion of the Lebanese population living in poverty has almost tripled since 2018 and is now estimated at 80% , with extreme poverty at 36% (EU 2023). It is assumed that this situation will worsen due to the economic and financial crisis that is intensifying. Resource conflicts and the overarching concern for a sufficient livelihood have a lasting negative impact on the relations between Syrian refugees and the host population and lead to an increase in social tensions. These overlay the ethnic-sectarian conflicts that already exist in Lebanon. Syrian refugees report verbal harassment and violence. Mental stress such as anxiety and depression spread equally among the refugees and the host population. Support to contribute to peaceful coexistence between Syrian refugees and host communities is urgently required.