HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN LEBANON 2019 General data of the country a. General Data Countries Lebanon Population 5,850,743 IDHI 0.61 Gender development 0.90 Maternal mortality 16 GINI Index 45.12 Social support 0.74 Population HCR 1,088,211 INFORM 5.40 Fragile state index 89.60 Mines victims 17 Development aid (in millions USD) 975 Mines aid (in millions USD) 8.70 b. Humanitarian law instruments ratified by the country Mine Ban Treaty / Status: Not signed Convention on Cluster Munitions / Status: Ratified 05/11/2010 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / Status: Ratified 14/06/2007 c. Geopolitical analysis 1. Social/cultural/demographic elements Lebanon is a multi-cultural, multi-religious country with 18 state-recognized religious groups: 4 Muslim, 12 Christian, 1 Druze, and 1 Jewish. 1 HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN 2. Political context In February 2005 former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb attack prompting an anti-Syrian and pro-western coalition to challenge the long-held dominance of Syria over Lebanon. The so called Cedar Revolution forced the withdrawal of the Syrian military. In 2017, a new president has been elected (Michel Aoun) after months of negotiations and blockages. Parliamentary elections have been held beginning of 2018 – with an increase number of seats for the parties affiliated to Hezbollah – but no government has been formed up to now (October 2018). The Prime Minister, Saad Hariri has been under a major pressure from different internal and external factors including his allies from Saudi Arabia and still intends keeping stability in the country. In January 31st 2019, the government was formed after almost 9 months of wait. 3. Economic elements The consequences of the Syria crisis have placed an unprecedented strain on the economy, public services, and infrastructure, as well as on demographic factors and social relations, in a country already managing multiple challenges around acute inequality and the presence of around 208,800 Palestine refugees who live in extreme vulnerability in 11 camps around the country. While Lebanon has remained a generous host to refugees, increased social tensions and possible host-community fatigue, combined with depleted resources among refugees and regional tensions, raise concerns for both the refugee and host population. With the focus on the deteriorating economic situation, Government’s top priority will be to implement all the economic reforms Lebanon promised at CEDRE. The reforms include reducing the budget deficit by one per cent every year over the next five years and privatizing the state-run electricity sector. Presence of HI in the country Handicap International’s work in Lebanon aims at increase the inclusion of people with disabilities and vulnerable people1 in community life, both physically (for instance, by providing access to education and health services and infrastructure etc.) and in terms of professional, cultural and social inclusion. The organisation also undertakes mine clearance work in the north of the country to protect the local population from the numerous explosive remnants of war from the 15-year civil war which ended in 1990. 1 People whose independence, dignity or physical or mental integrity is at risk. Vulnerability may be caused by age, illness, infirmity, a physical or mental impairment, or pregnancy. 2 HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN The association has also provided emergency assistance in the crisis situations that have rocked the country and region. In 2018, following the continuum / merging process, HI in Lebanon has progressively readjusted its mandate to be able to cover the full mandate: some LT project with Mental Health and Inclusive Education, some protracted crisis projects with AVR (Risk Education) and Protection. Finally, Handicap International ran its first mine clearance projects in the country in 2007 and is still active at 2018 in the North Lebanon. Projects Project title Sector of (Main) ongoing Funding intervention donors period Touching Minds, Raising Dignity – Mental Health French Cooperation (AFD) 01/01/2018 - Phase 2 Psychosocial support 31/12/2021 Enhancement of the Inclusion of Inclusion (Education) Department of Foreign 31/05/2018- People with Disabilities in Affairs and Trade 30/04/2020 Education Australia / UNICEF Landmines/UXO clearance Mine Action Weapons Removal and 04/02/2015- operations in Northern Lebanon Abatement (WRA- US) 30/06/2018 and 13/07/2018- 31/07/2019 Supporting Lebanon socio- Mine Action European Union (DEVCO) 07/05/2016- economic development through 07/01/2020 Mine clearance Improving protection and access to Protection DFID 01/01/2019 – legal and specialized services for 31/03/2021 refugees from Syria and vulnerable populations in Lebanon “Resilience and Sustainable Inclusion / livelihood BMZ (service contract 6 months – June – Economic Opportunities for Syrian with SCI) November 2019 Refugees and Host Communities in (TBC) Lebanon (RESO)” Improving prospects for refugees Inclusion / livelihood BUZA (partnership with From June 2019 - and vulnerable host communities in SCI) TBC Lebanon Improving mental health and well- Inclusion / Health AFD (initiative SAWA) – From November being of people living in Lebanon partnership with MDM 2019 - TBC Sensitisation to risks related to Mine Risk Education Centre de Crise et de 01/07/2018 – contamination by Explosive Soutien – CdCS (France) 31/08/2019 Remnants of War (ERW) - Arsaal area, Baalbek District, Lebanon 3 HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN French Cooperation(AFD) Department of Foreign UNICEF Affairs and Trade BMZ DFID European Union Centre de Crise et de Soutien Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA-US) HI team in Lebanon National Staff: 90 people including 4 teams of demining staff International Staff: 3 4 HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN Projects ongoing: Sectors of services where HI conducts projects and focus on operational partnerships Sector Objective of projects in Type of intervention/Main activities Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Partners Location the sector (2018) targeted for the all project To support socio economic Clearance of more than 30 minefields managing, Population of the Lebanese Province of development in Lebanon representing around 250 000 square securing and 11 villages Mine Action Northern through clearance of mines meters still remain impacted by mines and destroying identified from Centre Lebanon Mine and other Explosive Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Northern weapons: Jbeil and Batroun, (LMAC) (districts of Action Remnants of War (ERW). Governorate by the deployment of 4 direct benef: Bcharre and Batroun, manual mine teams; compiling and 172000 Koura districts Becharre analysing of information through pre and indirect: 217 000 (32,530 hbts) and Koura). post impact assessment surveys and More than 140 13 landlords testimonies from people living in the 000 m2 field danger zones to inform the impacted released from communities. mines in 2018 Reduce the threat posed HI is working under the authority of the A total of 8590 LOST District of by the mines, ERW and Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC). HI adult working in (Lebanese Baalbek, IEDs to the population will work in partnership with the National the contaminated Organisatio Baalbek- living in the North-East Steering Committee for Risk Education area and 17500 n for Studies Hermel part of the Baalbek district. and, will liaise closely with the members children The and Province, of this committee to develop its Lebanese Mine Training) Lebanon Intervention Strategy. The Risk Education Action Center. sessions will be conducted by LOST (Lebanese Organisation for Studies and 120 teachers. Training) 4 Municipality council To improve in a tangible Support 3 local partners to provide 1 partner Center 50 MH MOUSAWA Region of manner the living conditions multidisciplinary, users centred and is supported to Actors(national T partner in Bekaa:Bar of disabled and vulnerable community based mental health services. provide and international) Bar Elias Elais, Arsal& people through an inclusive Mental Support the National mental health community based 3 partners centres Balbaak and participative approach. Health program to the development/revision of rehabilitation 10 AMAL mental health policies and/or national services. multidisciplinary center in 5 HI – Lebanon Country Card – 2019 07 - EN strategic plans. 3 multidisciplinary service providers Arsal Support to local mainstream service service providers’ centres providers to increase their inclusiveness centres supported 75 MH staff Partners in and to be involved with in a structured to the creation of 15 users groups Balbaak is referral systems with partners. referral system. 80 CwMHP and not To increase awareness on MH at local, 11 partner staff their parents identified national and international levels. members are 1200 children at yet Support the creation/development of sensitized on MH risk of developing users groups and empower them. problems and MH problems. inclusion of CwMHP. 2 users groups 29 CwMHP and their parents benefited from rehabilitation. 146 children benefited from PSS activities. Identifying disability Procurement and distribution of The study 1000 children in Ministry of 30 pilot prevalence and areas of educational/non educational items provided an formal education Education schools functional difficulties following MEHE recommendations and assessment need in two years (both and Higher identified by Assessing the needs,