Protection, resilience and self-reliance in Lebanon and Syria

It has been over a decade since the Syrian crisis began. Yet despite this, it continues to impact the reality for millions Syrian with declining livelihood opportunities, increased food insecurity and deteriorating standards of living. In 2024, 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance and 5.5 of these are displaced.

Meanwhile, the refugee and host communities in Lebanon are also suffering the consequences of the protracted conflict. Lebanon, whilst grappling with its own economic and social challenges, has little capacity to support the displaced communities.

With the interconnecting impacts in both countries deriving from the fuel crisis, the aftermath of Covid-19, insufficient health services, deteriorating living conditions, a continuing food crisis, and high rates of crime and violence, fragility levels are high. Urgent humanitarian intervention is essential to bolster resilience and mitigate the worsening conditions in Syria and its heavily impacted neighbor, Lebanon.

The project

The project aimed to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene, enhance resilience through skills training and strengthen capacity of civil society organizations in Syria and Lebanon.

The most vulnerable households received emergency cash grants, ensuring they can afford necessities and enabling them to begin income generating activities. To supplement this, Oxfam trained local communities in business development and agricultural practices to develop livelihood opportunities.

Hygiene facilities are essential to ensure a good standard of living, enable women and girls to participate in education and livelihood activities and prevent the spread of diseases such as Covid-19. Through our local partners, we rehabilitated infrastructure in vulnerable communities and supported the menstrual hygiene needs women and girls in Lebanon, delivering menstrual hygiene kits and providing awareness raising sessions.

In situations of conflict and displacement, women and girls experience high levels of gender-based violence. To respond to this, we provided accessible protection services to women, enabling the referral and appropriate management of gender-based violence cases and ensuring access to vital services such as legal aid and case management for cases of deportation and eviction.

Time period and funding

This project ran for 2 years between 2022-2024 and was supported by Danida with 18 million DKK.

Countries: Lebanon and Syria

Results

In Lebanon, over 4,600 people gained access to safe water and sanitation services, with additional support for menstrual hygiene and awareness of gender-based violence. In Syria, rehabilitation projects provided safe water to more than 20,000 people and improved sanitation for 55,000 locals, alongside hygiene programs in schools benefiting more than 10.000 students.

Moreover, the project boosted the participation of 630 small farmers, providing support such as seeds, fertilizer, cash assistance, and technical training. 100 young people received training in business and life skills and facilitated coordination with stakeholders. By the end of the project, 71% of participants were employed.

Additionally, studies were conducted on migration, returns, and menstrual hygiene management in both countries and an online information-sharing mechanism was established for refugees and internally displaced persons.