Lebanon Project

Take a look at our work in Lebanon

Lebanon

According to UNHCR 2023 data, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita than any other country in the world. The vast majority (ca 1.5 million) are Syrian refugees and more than 350,000 live in the Bekaa Valley, which has been the focus of Iasis’ project in Lebanon.

The prolonged socio-economic crisis in Lebanon deepened further during the COVID-19 outbreak and was exacerbated by the 2020 Beirut port blast. UNHCR estimates that nearly a quarter of Syrian refugees are currently living in informal settlements and 88% of all Syrian refugees are in extreme poverty.

Long-term collaboration

Unfortunately, due to the unstable and unpredictable situation in the country, we have been unable to resume our annual visits to the Bekaa camps, which we carried out between 2014 and 2019.

Originally, we were invited by a local Christian NGO that links with the UK charity Children on the Edge to provide hands-on primary health care support, for the women and children in particular.

Iasis aid in Lebanon
Children in need of aid

Temporary clinics

During our visits, we have worked in grassroots community teams led by local Lebanese, British and US pharmacists, clinical staff and volunteers.

Together, we would go into one section of the various camps, set up a temporary ‘clinic’ under tarpaulin and see and treat as many people as possible over the space of a long weekend (Thursday to Monday).

Building trust

In addition to being an extra pair of hands, Iasis can sometimes assist more by acting as an extra pair of eyes and ears.

We take the time to sit alongside and observe local practitioners going about their work. It helps us get a really good feel for what works in the field. It builds trust and gives us the opportunity to consider where Iasis could help in other ways.

Iasis giving aid to civilian
Iasis giving aid

Empowering people

We ask ourselves and our partners: how we can empower the local team? What resources can Iasis fund that would support them best? What equipment is most needed? Can we introduce and connect them with others?

Focusing on building up the people on the ground has been so successful for Iasis in Lebanon that we are now going to use this as a model of support across all our projects.

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