Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Lebanon.
For Lebanon’s country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries and relevant documents, please click here.
As UNHCR statistics generally rely on data from host countries, statistics on refugees alone can give an insufficient account of refugee numbers, as some host countries will not grant refugee status to certain groups. Including statistics for individuals in refugee-like situations is an attempt to account for unrecognised refugees and does not include internally displaced persons. Statistics for stateless refugees are included if available.
Note: Lebanon is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not have a legal framework for refugees, which means that Lebanese law does not differentiate between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. UNHCR carries out refugee status determination in Lebanon.
ALEF – Act for human rights
Website link
Contact person: George Ghali
Email: George.ghali@alefliban.org
ALEF seeks to strengthen the respect and fulfilment of human rights as a cornerstone of social, economic, and political development. By embracing a comprehensive approach to monitoring, defending, and educating on human rights, ALEF aims to complement and gear all efforts towards achieving an influential human rights constituency and realising a durable peace.
Anti-Racist Movement – ARM
Website link
Contact person: Salma Sakr
Email: Salma@armlebanon.org
ARM’s mission is to decrease racist discrimination and abuse in Lebanon on the social and institutional levels by advocating for changes in the systems that perpetuate racist exploitative practices, through sensitization, awareness raising, advocacy, and community building for more just social and institutional frameworks in Lebanon.
American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera)
Anera provides humanitarian assistance and sustainable development to advance the well-being of refugees and other vulnerable communities in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. They mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Anera’s staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.
Basmeh and Zeitooneh Relief and Development
Basmeh & Zeitooneh was launched in September 2012 with field visits to areas with high concentrations of the most marginalized and desperate Syrian refugees. The main goal of these visits was to assess needs and find gaps left by other aid agencies. As a result of those preliminary assessments, Basmeh & Zeitooneh chose to concentrate their efforts in the most poorly served areas, including Arsal, the Bekaa Valley, Tripoli and the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. Basmeh & Zeitooneh’s volunteers make frequent field visits and foster a relationship of trust with their beneficiaries. All the while, it aspires to live up to its name by bringing smiles and peace to those it serves. In Arabic “basmeh,” means smile and “zeitooneh,” means olive, a symbol of peace and nourishment.
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
refugeerights.org
Urban Justice Center, 40 Rector St, 9th Fl, New York, NY 10006 (Headquarter)
Tel: +961 71 44 77 38
Email: info@refugeerights.org
IRAP’s Jordan and Lebanon Offices provide direct legal assistance to refugees of all nationalities in need of protection and resettlement. Attorneys and caseworkers in Jordan and Lebanon help clients navigate the complex legal processes of UNHCR and resettlement host countries worldwide in order to reach safety through both traditional and complementary pathways, including UNHCR resettlement, direct access to the US Refugee Admissions Program, humanitarian visas, and family reunification.
IRAP is a legal aid organisation and cannot provide financial assistance or other benefits. They do not make any decisions concerning resettlement and they are completely independent from UNHCR and national governments. Any information sent to IRAP is highly confidential, and all services are free of any charge. IRAP provides free legal services to refugees seeking refugee protection and resettlement.
Here are a few types of assistance that IRAP provides.
– Refugees in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. They can help individuals gather documents and present their refugee claim prior to IOM or USCIS interviews. If they are denied, IRAP can review to see if they can assist with a Request for Review, including written counseling for individuals with security-related reasons (“Other”) denials.
– Iraqis with U.S. employment or U.S. family affiliations. They help Iraqis apply to the Direct Access Program (DAP) administered by IOM. Their volunteers help locate employment verification. Additionally, they can coordinate with US relatives of Iraqis who may be able to file family-based immigration petitions for DAP.
– Afghans or Iraqis with U.S. employment applying for Special Immigrant Visa programs. They assist Afghans and Iraqis with all stages of the SIV process, including locating former US supervisors and preparing application documents.
– UNHCR Assistance. They can assist very vulnerable people in requests for recognition as refugees, including appealing rejections from UNHCR refugee recognition. For exceptionally vulnerable cases, and in cooperation with local UNHCR offices, they can refer a case to UNHCR to request protection services. The decision regarding any follow-up ultimately rests with UNHCR.
Centre Libanais des Droits Humains (CLDH)
www.rightsobserver.org
Immeuble Bakhos, 1er étage,Rue Mar Youssef, Dora, Beirut Liban
Tel/Fax: +961 01 24 00 23
Email: info@cldh-lebanon.org
Contact Person: Marie Daunay
Email: mdaunay@cldh-lebanon.org
The Centre Libanais des Droits Humains (CLDH) is a non-profit, non-political NGO that defends Human Rights in Lebanon. Amongst others, it fights against arbitrary detention and works for the rehabilitation of victims of torture. CLDH has opened the Centre Nassim for the rehabilitation of victims of Torture. For the Centre Nassim call : +961 (0)1 24 00 61. The Centre Libanais des Droits Humains (CLDH) is a member of the Euromed Human Rights Network’s Migration and Asylum Working group.
Frontiers Ruwad Association
Badaro Street, Fawaz Bldg, 7th Floor, P.O. BOX 13-6299, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel/Fax: +961 (0)1 38 95 56
Mobile: +961 34 57 324
Email: frontierscenter@frontiersruwad.org and legalaid@frontiersruwad.org
Contact Person: Samira Trad
FR was founded by a group of Lebanese human rights activists who had been active on refugee issues through the Ad-Hoc Committee in Support of Refugees and Asylum-seekers (ACSRA) (1999-2002) and for one year with a civil company called Frontiers Center (2003). Building on is history, FR’s mandate is to defend and advocate on behalf of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. At present, FR’s main activities in the refugee and statelessness arena include:
– Legal aid for refugees and stateless persons
– Legal counseling and representation of refugees, stateless, and other vulnerable migrant groups;
– Monitoring detention of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, particularly arbitrary detention, torture, and death in custody
– Legal and policy research and publication on pertinent refugee and statelessness issues in Lebanon;
– Internal and external training on refugee law and advocacy;
– Information dissemination and raising awareness;
– Empowerment of refugees;
– Networking at national and international level.
UNHCR carries out refugee status determination in Lebanon and Frontiers provides legal representation to asylum seekers throughout this process.Frontiers Ruwad Association is a member of the Euromed Human Rights Network’s Migration and Asylum Working group.
War Child International
Palestinian Human Rights Organization (PHRO)
www.palhumanrights.org/index.html
Facebook
Mar Elias Camp for Palestinian Refugees, P.O.Box: 114/5004 Beirut, Lebanon
Naher El Bared Camp, Main Street Sector E – Bldg E49, P.O.Box: 114/5004 Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 (0)1 30 67 40
Fax: +961 (0)1 30 15 49
Email: Phro@palhumanrights.org
Contact Persons: Mr. Ghassan Abdallah – General Director
Email: ghassana@palhumanrights.org
Mr. Raji Abdel Salam, Programs Consultant
Email: rajia@palhumanrights.org
Wasim Jahid Ahmad
Email: wassima@palhumanrights.org
The Palestinian Human Rights Organization (PHRO) is an independent Human Rights NGO. The PHRO works to promote, protect and defend the rights of the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon. The PHRO monitors and documents individual and group human rights violations cases in the Palestinian refugee camps, gatherings and prisons in Lebanon. Monitoring reports are available on the PHRO website in Arabic and English. The PHRO is a member of the Euromed Human Rights Network’s Migration and Asylum Working group.