Prof iles of iles Prof Although Lebanon is classified as a middle-income country, poverty remains a predominant challenge and is manifested in various ways. Going beyond the mere analysis of poverty from an income perspective, this unique study succeeded in drawing the various typologies of poverty in Lebanon, distin- guishing between the rural and urban settings, Lebanese and non-Lebanese citizens. Increased inequalities and disparities may lead to negative social, economic, and political consequences that may have a destabilizing impact on societies. Consequently, the findings of the report reconfirm the urgency for appropriate socioeconomic policies, strategies, and programs that re- Poverty spond to the needs of vulnerable groups, especially those who are challenged by tenure insecurity and poor housing conditions in informal urban areas. Dania Rifai, UN-Habitat Lebanon, Programme Manager This is a timely contribution to the literature on poverty in Lebanon. Poverty research, and the subject of poverty itself, are fairly recent in Lebanon and date back to late 1990s, an indicator of the hitherto paradigm that poverty is non- existent in the country. Here, this volume shows the wide spectrum of those marginalized in Lebanon, groups that are unheard of or often seen as some- Rupen Das • Julie Davidson • one else’s malaise. By voicing the voices of those on the margins of the margin, this book brings us closer to the reality of the poor of Lebanon. Policymakers and development practitioners should read this book … and open their ears. Nasser Yassin, PhD, Development Planning Specialist and Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut This book is an honest and objective, yet appealing, account of both Lebanon and the Palestinians living in Lebanon. The detailed facts and descriptions are an insightful representation of the historical situation, which has build up to create the difficulties that the refugees face today. This book is not only enjoyable to read, but also allows the reader to visualize the human dimen- sions of poverty and marginalization facing the Palestinian population today. Olfat Mahmoud, Director, Women’s Humanitarian Organization with Niamh Flemming-Farrell (ed.) This report represents important and innovative work to understand the root causes of poverty in Lebanon. Interviews with over 400 men and women, girls and boys, lends real authenticity to the findings that Lebanon has a pro- found poverty issue. Understanding the causes of this poverty is the first step in finding a solution, which will enable all children in Lebanon to achieve their full potential … Conny Lenneberg, Regional Leader, World Vision International, Middle East & Eastern Europe Rupen Das is director for community development with LSESD and senior Profiles of advisor capacity building, international programs for CBM. Julie Davidson is a development practioner and researcher based in Beirut. Niamh Fleming-Farrell is a writer and editor based in Beirut. Poverty The human face of poverty in Lebanon Rupen Das • Julie Davidson • with Niamh Fleming-Farrell (ed.) Profiles of Poverty The human face of poverty in Lebanon Rupen Das • Julie Davidson • with Niamh Fleming-Farrell (ed.)5 Profiles of Poverty The human face of poverty in Lebanon © 2011 by Rupen Das and Julie Davidson All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other – except for brief quo- tations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published in Mansourieh, Lebanon, by Dar Manhal al Hayat Photographs of the cover and on pages 400, 441 (top) were included with the permission of Tahaddi Association. Photographs on pages 153, 157, 158, 163, 180, 434, 435 were included with the permission of Rasha Makki. Photograph on page 38 was included with the permission of Heather McGuffin. Edited by Niamh Fleming-Farrell Cover and interior design by Dar Manhal al Hayat, Production Department B.O Box: 165 Mansourieh, El Metn-Lebanon Telephone: +961 4 401922 Fax: +961 4 532481 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.Dar-Manhal-Alhayat.com TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 11 Guidance notes 15 Acronyms 17 Arabic words and colloquialisms 21 1. Introduction 25 Part 1. Poverty in rural Lebanon Map of rural communities studied 75 2. Poverty in rural Lebanon 77 3. Mareh and Bajaa, north Lebanon 83 4. Wazzani, south Lebanon 123 5. Jmeijme, south Lebanon 149 6. Arab el Harouq, Bekaa Valley 191 Part 2. Poverty in urban Lebanon Map of urban communities studied 227 7. Poverty in urban Lebanon 229 8. Hay el Tanak, Tripoli 235 9. Hay el Gharbeh, Beirut 265 10. Karm el Zeitoun, Beirut 297 Part 3. Refugees in Lebanon Map of refugee communities studied 339 11. Refugees in Lebanon 341 12. El Buss and Jal el Bahr, Palestinian communities, Tyre 347 Part 4. Conclusion 13. Conclusion, patterns of poverty 423 Color photographs 430 Appendices I – Lebanon timeline 449 II – Methodology 457 III – Community assessment tool 465 IV – Tenure systems and their characteristics 475 Bibliography 479 Biographies 493 List of figures and tables 1.1 Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 36 3.3 Health indicators for Akkar 101 1.2 Simple, complicated, and complex problems 37 3.4 Infrastructure in Akkar 104 1.3 Map of Lebanon 41 5.1 Tobacco production by region 165 1.4 HDI ranking and other characteristics of selected countries 46 5.2 Age distribution of working children in tobacco production 168 1.5 Millennium Development Goal 1: Eradicate Hunger 6.1 Nutritional status of Bedouin children aged 6-10 and Poverty 47 years in Lebanon and Syria 208 1.6 Millennium Development Goal 2: Achieve Universal 9.1 Estimated size of the Dom population in selected Primary Education 49 areas of Lebanon 272 1.7 Millennium Development Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality 11.1 2011 UNHCR planning figures for Lebanon 342 and Empower Women 51 12.1 Percentage breakdown by occupation of those employed 363 1.8 Millennium Development Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality 52 12.2 Highest education achievement levels 368 1.9 Millennium Development Goal 5: Improve Maternal Mortality 53 12.3 Selection of disabilities and behavioral problems found 1.10 Millennium Development Goal 7: Environmental Sustainability 54 among 451 Paestinian children with disabilities in the three 1.11 Distribution of households, as a percentage of total households camps in the Tyre area 372 in the mohafazat, according to the Living Conditions Index 56 12.4 Percentage of Palestinians and Lebanese populations with access to health insurance 392 1.12 Distribution of households according to the Living Conditions Index in the six most deprived cazas compared to the national 12.5 Main health care service providers for Palestinians Lebanon 393 average and the least deprived caza 57 II.a Total number of interviews and participants 461 1.13 A selection of cazas in descending order of their share of II.b Participants broken down by role within the community 462 individuals classified as having a low degree of satisfaction 58 III.c Percentage of interviews conducted in each community 463 1.14 Income-related indicators 60 1.15 Education indicators 61 1.16 Housingindicators 62 1.17 Water and sewage indicators 63 1.18 Distribution of population between poor and non-poor categories 64 3.1 Livelihood and economic indicators for Akkar 95 3.2 Education indicators for Akkar 97 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Studies like Profiles of Poverty start with a frustration of not understanding something. Perry Mansfield, the former national director for World Vision Leba- non (WVL) and a colleague from my own World Vision days, shared the per- plexing questions about poverty in Lebanon as we talked of our frustrations with many development organizations and their different perceptions of Lebanon. We also recognized that the dynamics of poverty and marginalized groups were having a profound effect in the region. Those frustrations and questions were the genesis of this project. Perry’s commitment to make sure that this study got started was what made the difference. A study such as this, which involves hundreds of interviews in eight very di- verse locations in the country, was only made possible because of key individuals and supporters. I am indebted to Julie Davidson who in addition to contribut- ing at every stage of the writing of this book, did much of the secondary data research and guided the field research teams in each of the locations. Her hard work and dedication to the project, as well as her cultural and social sensitivity throughout the interviews are qualities that make her an extremely valuable col- league and co-author. Most of the photographs used were taken by her, unless otherwise acknowledged. I am grateful to Dr. Nabil Costa, the Executive Director of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD), for his willingness to see the project move ahead and for providing me the time and encourage- ment to ensure that it was completed. His own concerns for those in need are reflected in the wide range of activities that LSESD is involved in. I also want to acknowledge the support provided by Alia Abboud (Director for Development and Partner Relations) and Rene Khodr (Senior Accountant) at LSESD. Gordon King, the Director of the Sharing Way at CBM, a colleague, former boss, and a friend on a similar journey was instrumental in making sure that we 13 had funding for the research for this project. Terry Smith, the Director of In- The team at Dar Manhal Al Hayat has been invaluable in providing the ternational Partnerships at CBM, provided encouragement by his acknowledg- flexibility, support and creativity that was necessary to ensure that the study got ment of how vital this study is.