Attachments
Introduction
Multiple crises have left a large share of Lebanon’s resident population facing severe hardship, particularly the most vulnerable. This crisis has quickly rendered a significant share of the Lebanese population in need of humanitarian assistance, a service that so far has been mostly directed towards refugee communities in the country, mainly Syrian and Palestinian. As needs rapidly increase among a population that historically has not required emergency assistance, organizations face obstacles in appropriately engaging with communities regarding what assistance is available to them and how to access it, if they are eligible. In light of deteriorating living conditions and increased humanitarian need, international aid organizations and donors have rolled out assistance programs targeting Lebanese households, including cash assistance. However, the types of assistance needed, the means to understand them, and the channels used for reaching out to potential beneficiaries differ between Lebanese and non-Lebanese. As such, organizations working with Lebanese beneficiaries must understand these differing dynamics and improve communication with the Lebanese population. Not only could this improve the effectiveness of aid delivery, but it could also reduce social tensions triggered by perceptions of “aid bias” among Lebanese, notably towards support for other communities. This study, a collaboration between the Mercy Corps Lebanon Crisis Analytics Team (LCAT) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), examines the barriers facing vulnerable Lebanese when trying to access assistance, in an effort to develop recommendations for the broader humanitarian aid response in Lebanon.
In this context, the DRC conducted a survey of 744 Lebanese citizens distributed over six Lebanese governorates to gather data on the main challenges facing Lebanese families; their relationship with aid organizations, both local and international; and barriers to accessing aid. The survey was implemented by B.O.T in late 2021, and the results were shared with Mercy Corps’ LCAT team for analysis. Additionally, key informant interviews were conducted with humanitarian stakeholders, and the LCAT team analyzed data from the 2022 Lebanon Multi-Sector Needs Analysis (MSNA) as well as from DRCs referral information management system (RIMS) for the period 2021 to 2022.