Syria Crisis - Emergency Assistance for Vulnerable People in Lebanon - Mercy Corps 2015

March 2015 - The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate as a result of the civil war and intensified violence in the country. The United Nations estimates that 12.2 million people inside Syria including 5.6 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Combined with 3.8 million Syrians seeking refuge from the conflict in neighbouring countries this is the largest number of people displaced from conflict in the world. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and host countries are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people fleeing the conflict. With DFATD’s support Mercy Corps is helping improve water sanitation hygiene and shelter needs of up to 20 000 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese host communities in Lebanon. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating water hygiene and sanitation (WASH) facilities in underserved refugee and host community homes; (2) rehabilitating WASH facilities in ten elementary schools; (3) providing hygiene promotion activities in schools vulnerable refugee settlements and youth centres; (4) rehabilitating small shelter units including existing unfinished or substandard apartments or houses for up to 2 500 Syrian refugees; and (5) supporting local municipal representatives to negotiate tenure and reduced rental contracts for up to 2 500 Syrian refugees.

The expected outcomes for this project are: (1) increased access to water sanitation and hygiene facilities for Syrian refugees and vulnerable host populations in Lebanon; and (2) increased access to settlement spaces with improved security and acceptable living conditions for vulnerable Syrian refugees. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.