The requirements presented in this funding snapshot refer to the 2017 Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan covering the period January to December 2017 available at http://reporting.unhcr.org/publications
Funding level
3RP Requirements $4,633,255,733
Funding received $1,043,958,596
% funded 23%
The CLDH strongly condemns the acts of torture committed by the army during a wave of arrests in Arsal, which led to the death of at least four detainees, and calls for the opening of an independent investigation and respect for the rights of those still detained.
In the preamble of Lebanon’s Constitution, in paragraph - b - Lebanon expresses its firm determination to respect the United Nations Charters and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The latter makes it clear in its Article 5 that no one shall be subjected to torture. Lebanon has also been a party to the Convention against Torture since 2000.
Yet on Friday 30 th of June, the media reported a raid by the Lebanese army and mass arrests in two Syrian refugee camps near the town of Arsal. Alarming photos broadcasted by the media and not refuted by the army showed dozens of detainees lying face down, handcuffed in the back by plastic ties, some with their shirts wrapped on their faces, under the sun.
Another picture shows men kneeling, and one of them handcuffed in the back, the shirt on his head, with a paint spray inscription on the back, just like branded livestock heading to the slaughterhouse. Similarly, detainees piled one on top of another in an army truck at the feet of a soldier can be seen on one of the photos. One of them bears serious marks of beatings on his back. Even worse, on July 4 th , the army reported that four of the detainees had died of chronic diseases aggravated "by weather conditions". In reality, these detainees may have died of chronic diseases (this yet remains to be evidenced), however, they have not been aggravated by weather conditions but by the torture inflicted on them by the army. This army is supposed to be responsible for maintaining security and fighting terrorism instead of violating human rights and encouraging terrorism. We strongly condemn what has happened since last Friday, the spread of degrading images that document the arrests, the torture of detainees and the systematic campaign of intimidation against any person or organizations who raised their voice to criticize the illegal procedures used by the armed forces.
The Lebanese Center for Human Rights condemns the flagrant and repeated violation of domestic and international laws during each military operation and the lack of transparency and impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes, which encourages them to repeat the very same crimes.
We demand from the Judiciary and the Ministry of Defense:
• To initiate an immediate judicial inquiry into the four cases of death under torture recognized by the army, and allow the examination of the remains by an independent forensic doctor appointed by the families.
• To allow families, relatives of inmates and relevant associations to appoint independent lawyers who can interview all inmates privately.
• To publish a detailed list of names of detainees and places of detention and allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their lawyers and families to visit them immediately.
• To immediately arrest every officer or soldier whose participation in the torture has been proved until the publication of the judicial decisions.
The fight against terrorism cannot be achieved by importing the methods of terrorist groups, by intimidating, torturing and murdering, but instead by scrupulous law enforcement and strict observance of the Lebanese Constitution and international commitments of Lebanon.
The confession by the Lebanese army of the death of at least four people under torture should shake the conscience of all concerned persons so that Lebanon does not turn into the neighboring dictatorships.
The only safeguard for peace and security to all of us is the respect of justice and the condemnation of criminals.
Le CLDH condamne fermement les actes de torture commis par l’armée lors de la vague d’arrestation de Arsal, qui ont conduit au décès d’au moins quatre détenus, et demande l’ouverture d’une enquête indépendante et le respect des droits des personnes encore détenues.
Dans le préambule de la Constitution du Liban, au paragraphe - b - le Liban dit sa détermination ferme à respecter les chartes des Nations Unies et la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’Homme [1].
Cette déclaration indique clairement à l’article V que nul ne peut être soumis à la torture [2]. Le Liban est également parti à la Convention contre la torture depuis l’année 2000. Or, vendredi 30 juin, les médias ont fait état d’un raid de l’armée libanaise, et d’arrestations massives dans deux camps de réfugiés syriens près de la ville de Arsal.
Des photos alarmantes, reprises par l’ensemble des médias et non démenties par l’armée ont montré des dizaines de détenus couchés à plat ventre, le visage contre terre, menottés dans le dos par des liens en plastique, certains avec leur chemise sur le visage, sous le soleil. Une autre photo montre des hommes agenouillés, et l’un d’eux menotté dans le dos, la chemise sur la tête, avec une inscription à la bombe de peinture dans le dos, comme on aurait marqué un animal de ferme destiné à l’abattoir. Dans le même ordre d’idée, des détenus entassés les uns sur les autres dans un camion de l’armée, aux pieds d’un soldat, peuvent être vus sur l’une des photos diffusées. L’un d’eux porte des marques de coups violents sur son dos.
Pire encore, le 4 juillet, l’armée aurait annoncé que quatre des détenus sont décédés de maladies chroniques aggravées « par les conditions climatiques ». En réalité ces détenus sont morts peut être de maladies chroniques (cela reste à prouver) mais en tout état de cause celles-ci ont été aggravées non pas par les conditions climatiques mais bien par la torture qui leur a été infligée par l’armée. Cette armée qui est censée être chargée de maintenir la sécurité et de combattre le terrorisme et non de violer les Droits de l’Homme et d’encourager le terrorisme.
Nous dénonçons fermement ce qui est arrivé depuis vendredi dernier, de la diffusion d’images dégradantes qui documentent les arrestations, la torture des détenus et la campagne systématique d’intimidation contre toute personne ou organisations qui a élevé la voix pour critiquer les procédures illégales utilisées par les forces armées.
Le Centre Libanais des Droits de l’Homme condamne la violation flagrante et répétée des lois locales et internationales après chaque opération militaire et le manque de transparence et l’impunité pour les auteurs de ces crimes ce qui les encourage à répéter leurs crimes.
Nous exigeons de la Justice et du ministère de la Défense, les mesures suivantes :
• Ouvrir une enquête judiciaire immédiate sur les quatre cas de décès sous la torture reconnus par l’armée, et permettre l’examen des dépouilles par un médecin légiste indépendant nommé par les familles.
• Permettre aux familles, aux parents des détenus et aux associations concernées de nommer des avocats indépendants qui puissent interviewer en privé tous les détenus sans exception
• Publier une liste détaillée des noms des détenus et des lieux de détention et permettre au Comité International de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) et à leurs avocats et familles de leur rendre visite immédiatement.
• Arrêter immédiatement chaque officier ou soldat dont la participation à la torture a été prouvée, et ce jusqu’à la publication des décisions judiciaires.
La lutte contre le terrorisme ne peut se faire en important les méthodes des groupes terroristes, en pratiquant l’intimidation, la torture et l’assassinat mais par l’application scrupuleuse des lois et le respect strict de la Constitution libanaise et des engagements internationaux au Liban.
L’aveu par l’armée libanaise de la mort d’au moins quatre personnes sous la torture devrait éveiller la conscience de tous les intéressés pour que le Liban ne glisse pas au niveau des dictatures qui nous entourent. Seul le respect de la justice et la condamnation des criminels sont la garantie de la paix et de la sécurité pour nous tous.
Notes
[1] B – Le Liban est d’identité et d’appartenance arabe, membre fondateur de la Ligue arabe et s’engage à leurs chartes, comme le fondateur et membre actif de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et respecte ses engagements et la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme et consignera ces principes dans tous les domaines sans exception
[2] Article 5 Nul ne peut être soumis à la torture ou à des peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants
In the coming months, the EU and Lebanon will agree on more detailed plans for the implementation of their partnership for the coming years. On the 17th of July, the EU-Lebanon Association Council will convene, following the agreement on new Partnership Priorities plus Compact and an Outline of a Single Support Framework. Whereas human rights are an essential element in the cooperation between the EU and Lebanon, plans for the implementation of the partnership focus on refugee management and security. ALEF and PAX warn that this focus on security and refugee management risks contributing to a deterioration of the security and human rights situation in Lebanon. Rather, the organisations argue that prioritising the issues of abolition of the death penalty, the rule of law, torture prevention and refugee protection are essential for promoting security in Lebanon and Europe. ALEF and PAX urge the EU and EU member states to do their fair share towards protecting refugees by increasing resettlement slots for Syrians and providing other safe and legal routes to Europe. Furthermore, ALEF and PAX urge the EU and Lebanon to adopt a clear framework for consultation with civil society and a clear action plan for implementation to which all parties can be held accountable.
The quarterly dashboard summarizes the progress made by partners involved in the Lebanon Crisis Response and highlights trends aecting people in need. Partners in Lebanon are working to: 1) enhance access to, and demand from, children and youth, and their caregivers, for equitable formal or regulated non-formal education; 2) enhance quality of education services and learning environment to ensure grade-appropriate learning outcome to children and youth.
Summary:
Peacebuilding, in its essence, is about building more inclusive and less violent societies, with gender often being one of the most salient factors impacting on social exclusion. Questions of sexual orientation and gender identity that do not fall into the binary categories of women and men or do not adhere to heterosexual norms have been largely absent from gender and peacebuilding research, policy and programming. Based on our research conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Lebanon and Nepal, as well as a review of secondary literature, we demonstrate how identifying – or being identified by others – as belonging to a sexual and gender minority often adds additional layers of vulnerability, precariousness and danger to lives already under threat. While sexual and gender minority persons often live in precarious conditions in peacetime, these are exacerbated in situations of violent conflict and displacement. As with other gendered vulnerabilities and power imbalances, pre-existing conditions of discrimination and exclusion are heightened and made more acute in these situations. Peacebuilding must therefore do a better job at understanding these dynamics and addressing them.
In December 2015, Altai Consulting was commissioned by Save the Children’s Middle East and Eurasia Regional Office to conduct a research study on the protection of children fleeing from the Syria conflict and traveling to Europe. Fieldwork was conducted over January and February 2016 and culminated in a total of 198 interviews across 19 locations in eight countries: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia, and Croatia.
This research study reviews the drivers of migration from Syria and the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Routes and conditions of the journey are also evaluated – with special attention given to the risks and vulnerabilities confronted by children and families, including smuggling, psychological impact, family separation, etc.
Background
Since March 2011, the humanitarian situation in Syria has further deteriorated with increasing needs and number of people affected in all 14 governorates Therefore, continuous identification of humanitarian needs to inform a scale-up of response is critical both at sectoral and multi-sectoral level;. Although broad humanitarian needs in Syria have been identified, there is a need for more disaggregated data and to have an overview of needs and vulnerability nationwide, in particular to monitor the evolving severity of the humanitarian crisis.
This document provides an overview on needs assessment work in Syria Crisis with following components:
Assessment Products
Profiling of refugees in neighboring countries to assess area of origin
Joint Humanitarian Assessment within Syria
Coordination Structures
1. Assessment Products
There are two assessment products currently produced for the Syria Crisis: the Humanitarian Dashboard and the Humanitarian Needs Overview.
a. Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO)
b. Humanitarian Dashboard
Since November 2012, the Syria Dashboard is being updated on monthly basis with contributions from respective sectors. It covers key figures on SHARP funding, people in need, people targeted and reached for every sector
Claire Mcloughlin
University of Birmingham
12 June 2017
1. Overview
This report summarises recent evidence on what works in supporting refugee livelihoods in protracted crises. Particular attention is given to the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in developing livelihoods for Palestinian refugees living inside and outside camps in the MENA region1 . Refugee livelihoods programming is understood here as activities that promote wage employment or self-employment through skills and vocational training, microfinance, business development and job placement (Feinstein International Center, 2012).
Much of the literature in this area acknowledges the widespread constraints to livelihoods development in refugee settings. These include a disabling policy environment, low levels of social capital, poverty, and weak baseline levels of training and skills (See: Crawford, Cosgrave,
Haysom, & Walicki, 2015; Jacobsen & Fratzke, 2016; Rohwerder, 2016). Measures to support self-sufficiency in situations of protracted population are often severely hampered by restricted freedom of movement, weak tailoring of interventions to local economic conditions, and the shortterm or the small scale nature of some programmes (Mcloughlin, 2013). The political context for supporting refugee livelihoods can also be hostile and prohibitive: host governments can be resistant to any form of livelihoods programming that promotes the ability of refugees to work and therefore compete with locals (Jacobsen & Fratzke, 2016).
While these constraints to livelihoods development are well documented, there is little available evidence of what works in addressing them. The evidence base is weak both in terms of its size and quality. Previous reviews have concluded there is both a lack of ‘hard evidence and preponderance of very small-scale interventions’ in this area (Crawford et al., 2015, p. 31). A widely-cited review in 2016 observed that very few independent impact evaluations have been carried out (Jacobsen & Fratzke, 2016, p. 11). Much of the data available in the public domain is limited to describing static outputs from livelihoods programmes in refugee settings – for example, number of target beneficiaries, or descriptive statistics of service uptake - with comparatively little consideration of longer-term outcomes on livelihoods, or wider collective impacts (ibid). In addition to these limitations, experts point out that since each protracted crisis offers its own challenges and constraints, it is probably not advisable to draw comparisons about what works across contexts (Crawford et al., 2015; Jacobsen & Fratzke, 2016). In view of these limitations, improving learning and practice regarding successful approaches to livelihoods development has recently been adopted as a key pillar of UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Livelihoods, 2014-2018 (UNHCR, 2014).
The evidence base is weak both generally and with respect to UNWRAs activities in particular. In 2017, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted an evaluation of UNWRA’s relevance, effectiveness and efficiency in promoting a decent standard of living for Palestine refugees 2010-2015 (UNESC, 2017). The mixed-method design included a meta-review of 42 evaluation reports, household and intercept surveys of a sample of refugees, field missions to Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and the West Bank, and interviews with UNWRA staff. The evaluation concluded that overall ‘although UNRWA has made gains in its monitoring and evaluation function, these functions are still underemphasized as tools to help UNRWA learn and improve’ (UNESC, 2017, p. 2). The evaluation also concluded that UNWRA had been unsuccessful in promoting the shared goal of a decent standard of living within the agency (ibid). A combination of a precarious operating environment, restricted data availability and sub-optimal evaluation designs have all hampered the evidence base on UNWRA’s impact on supporting Palestinian refugee livelihoods (ibid).
In light of these limitations, this report is also limited. It identifies only a handful of relevant evaluations of livelihoods interventions in protracted crises. While it is not possible based on this evidence to give any reliable account of ‘what works’, these evaluations do provide some indication that certain activities have seen positive results. In general, more holistic approaches that address structural barriers (e.g. integrating measures to secure housing or address land rights) while also promoting livelihoods and skills are advocated across the literature. At the same time, short-term, ad-hoc interventions (e.g. temporary employment opportunities) have been relatively discredited as having little durable impact.
Since there is considerable guidance-style literature available (in contrast to actual evaluations), this report begins with a brief synthesis of what is considered emerging good practice for working on refugee livelihoods in protracted crises. It then presents the limited evidence of the outcomes and impacts of UNWRA’s and other agencies livelihoods programmes under three broad headings: Employability, Technical, Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) and Microfinance.
Executive Summary
This report presents research that looked at the assistance provided to Syrian refugees and affected host communities in Lebanon, as part of the CREATE project (Collective Commitment to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies) led by Transparency International (TI) in partnership with Humanitarian Outcomes (HO) and Groupe URD, funded by the European Commission Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
The objectives of the research were: to highlight the risks to integrity which humanitarian actors face in Lebanon; to highlight the preventive/mitigation measures, tools and good practices implemented by humanitarian actors to guarantee the integrity of their operations; and to make actionable recommendations to humanitarian actors to enhance the integrity of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. A qualitative research approach was used for this study, including interviews with key stakeholders and community consultations as well as the inputs of a national stakeholder group comprised of both national institutions and international stakeholders.
Education is vital to maintaining a sense of normality in protracted displacement. With the support of Australian Aid, Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA provides inclusive early education to vulnerable Syrian and Palestinian refugees in camp communities in Beirut, Lebanon. The project uses Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) funding to meet early childhood education needs and promote social and educational development for refugee children in Bourj Al Bourajneh and Shatila camps. The local project partner is the Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organisation, which has implemented Australian Aid projects since 1984.
The project provides high-quality pre-schooling for children in the in Bourj al-Barajneh and Shatila refugee camps, and specifically addresses the needs of refugee children for intensive educational and social support. The project ensures the success of refugee children upon entering the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) or Lebanese school systems. The early education centre has provided support for young Palestinian children in the camp for many years. Now the camp populations have doubled with people fleeing Syria. Many of the younger children from Syria have no schooling and are traumatised by war.
The project includes refugee children with physical and learning disabilities in early childhood education. The provision of this early childhood education enables hundreds of children each year to enter the school system without a learning disadvantage. To start primary school, children should have basic Arabic and English literacy. Over 150 girls, 48 with a disability, are expected be supported by this project in 2016-2017.
UNIFIL’s Sector West Headquarters and the Mission’s Italian Contingent organized a mine awareness campaign at As Samaiyah Intermediate Public School in Tyre district, in collaboration with various UNIFIL units, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
The event drew in a large number of audience that also included UNIFIL Sector West Commander Brigadier General Francesco Olla, LAF officers and soldiers, municipal and education officials, and a large number of young children from National Educational Scout.
The campaign was characterized by different live activities and performances by trained experts. It also included a stage show with the central theme of “mine awareness” and performed by the students of Balamand University.
Summary
Globally, it is estimated that 128.6 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these individuals, approximately one-fourth are women and girls of reproductive age. Although family planning is one of the most life-saving, empowering, and cost-effective interventions for women and girls, it remains an overwhelming gap in emergency responses due to a lack of prioritisation and funding. Consequently, many women and girls are forced to contend with an unmet need for family planning and unplanned pregnancies in addition to the traumas of conflict, disaster, and displacement.
The Family Planning Summit (FP Summit), convened in London on 11 July 2017, presents a critical opportunity to accelerate efforts to deliver family planning to women and girls globally— including those affected by humanitarian crises. In preparation, on 4 May 2017, the Inter-agency Working Group for Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG) convened an expert consultation on family planning in humanitarian contexts, on behalf of the humanitarian workstream of the 2017 FP Summit, including DFID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNFPA. At the expert consultation, IAWG members presented their experiences providing family planning in diverse humanitarian contexts, demonstrating that there is consistent demand for family planning services and that it is feasible to provide them, even in the most challenging contexts.
Building on this momentum, the International Rescue Committee, in partnership with Care, Save the Children and the Women’s Refugee Commission, organised a donor consultation on 7 June 2017 to seek input from donors and stakeholders to shape messages and recommendations for the London FP summit. This paper is a synthesis of the findings developed through both consultations and identifies collaborative solutions and actions to be taken at the FP Summit and beyond.
Discover the UNDP Peace Building in Lebanon project’ activities implemented during the past 3 months from North to South Lebanon. In this newsletter, you will read about the Mechanisms for Social Stability (MSS) around Lebanon and the Violence Free Schools initiative currently implemented in Tripoli. You will also be able to read about the news supplement and have additional information on the project’s work with media institutions, in addition to the latest conflict analysis report for Central and West Bekaa.
Newsletter available in Arabic and English.
Fifteen-year-old Malek is one of many young Syrians in Lebanon lacking a residency permit. Without identity papers, youth can’t move freely and risk being deprived of their education.
It’s a warm sunny day when we approach Syrian couple Mona and Yaser’s home in North Lebanon. As we walk up the cracked staircase leading to their home, we are greeted by one of their sons, Malek.
Malek is a shy boy. As he is bullied by children in his neighbourhood, he never goes outside. This is increasingly becoming a common issue among Syrian children in Lebanon.
“My mum doesn’t allow me to defend myself when the other children are mean. She is afraid that I get into trouble and wants me to avoid them,” says Malek. He misses Syria, where he had many friends and relatives.
Syrians risk their lives for identity papers
Young Syrian boys like Malek face many challenges in Lebanon. Children turning fifteen need to obtain legal residency by providing formal identification documents issued by the Syrian government. This documentation is impossible to obtain without entering Syria, and some family members often embark on a dangerous journey, risking their lives to obtain identity documents. The alternative is to live in Lebanon in fear.
Amman/ Paris 13 July 2017– Jessica Kahawaty, Lebanese-Australian international model and presenter with a background in human rights law, is visiting the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan this week, as part of Louis Vuitton’s efforts to raise awareness and funds for Syrian children facing the world’s most challenging humanitarian crisis.
The Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, one of the largest in the world with a population of 79,000 Syrian refugees, is situated in Jordan about 12 km from the Syrian border. UNICEF has been on the ground since the camp opened in July 2012, providing urgent humanitarian aid, including life-saving vaccines, clean water, psychosocial support and protection from violence to children and families affected by the crisis. UNICEF works closely with education authorities to make sure that children are able to go to school.
“This visit to Zaatari refugee camp was extremely powerful - heartbreaking but full of hope. There is an incredible generation of children who believe in education and making a difference. I met an inspiring young girl in the camp called Omaima, who at the tender age of 16, is fighting arranged child marriage and giving talks in the camp to educate girls and their families,” said Jessica Kahawaty.
“These children have taught me so much - to continue smiling in the face of adversity, generosity in the sweet hand-made gifts they gave me, hard work and always dreaming for a better future. The global community must continue investing in their education and wellbeing, for them to rebuild Syria when peace returns one day,” she added.
The Syrian refugee crisis remains the largest humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II. Countries neighbouring the Syrian Arabic Republic are hosting more than 4.8 million registered Syrian refugees, including more than 2.2 million children. In Syria, since just the beginning of the year, UNICEF has reached: 4 million children under five with polio vaccinations, 14 million people with drinking water, and nearly 140,000 children with school supplies. However, the scale of this crisis for children is unprecedented, and funds are needed more than ever to reach out to every child in danger.
UNICEF is the leading humanitarian and development organization working globally for the rights of every child. The aim of the partnership “LOUIS VUITTON for UNICEF” is to raise funds for UNICEF and help support children that are exposed to conflict, diseases, natural disasters and other situations that threaten their safety and well-being.
Since January 2016, the LOUIS VUITTON for UNICEF partnership has raised more than $2.5m to help bring children life-saving humanitarian support, which includes children affected by the conflict in Syria. And in doing so, it has brought hope to vulnerable children who have endured the horrors of war and deprivation.
LOUIS VUITTON makes a promise to continue helping these children. Please join us. #makeapromise
To make a direct donation to the children of the world, please visit: www.support.unicef.org/lvforunicef
For more information on the partnership: please visit www.louisvuitton.com/lvforunicef
UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product.
-Ends-
About JESSICA KAHAWATY
International model and philanthropist, Jessica Kahawaty, Australian born of Arabic origins, has bridged cultures together through her work in the fashion industry and humanitarianism. An ambassador for some of the world's exclusive brands, Jessica uses her name to continuously shed light on global issues around the world and empower young women to reach their full potential through education and the arts. Jessica is a philanthropist at heart and has always been passionate about human rights. Whilst working in fashion at a young age, she pursued her studies in Law back in Sydney. Today she works with a number of global fashion brands whilst continuing to raise awareness for the welfare of children.
Contact: Luisa Vautier Franco - luisa@vautier.london - +44 207 631 3209
About LOUIS VUITTON
Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has brought unique designs to the world, combining innovation with style, always aiming for the finest quality. Today, the House remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented a genuine “Art of Travel” through luggage, bags and accessories which were as creative as they were elegant and practical. Since then, audacity has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its heritage, Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists and designers across the years, all the while developing disciplines such as ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, watches, jewellery and stationery. As a House that treasures its past while embracing the future, Louis Vuitton has always cherished the values of transmission and often been associated to charities in link with children.
Contact: Jun Fujiwara – jun.fujiwara@louisvuitton.com - +33 1 5580 3800
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Tania Dhakhwa– tdhakhwa@unicef.org, - +41 22 909 5243;
Miraj Pradhan, UNICEf Jordan – mpradhan@unicef.org +962 790 214 191
Samir Badran, UNCIEf Jordan – sbadran@unicef.org +962 796 926 180
Along the Blue Line near Blida fields, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Blue Line team holds their surveying and mapping instrument steady to take GIS coordinates. As a LAF officer calls out the coordinates, his colleagues write them down and they confirm the position. Then they hammer a large steel picket into the ground. The picket they are hammering is near two others, one is sprayed blue, indicating UNIFIL’s measurement, and the other is sprayed yellow, indicating the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) measurement. The sound of a spray paint being shaken interrupts the quiet countryside, then the LAF team sprays their third picket a bright red.
As the UNIFIL GIS officers measure the distance between each of the pickets, Brigadier General Antoun Mourad from LAF explains, “Today we have to measure eight new points along the Blue Line. These newly proposed points will be measured by the LAF with UNIFIL. Part of these points were measured by the Israeli side, and other parts still need to be measured. After the measuring process ends, the marking process starts.”
A blue, a red and a yellow picket in such close proximity means in the near future a blue barrel will be erected here. For a point to be confirmed, the difference between the pickets should be within 50 centimetres. The simplicity of these three pickets hammered into in the ground symbolize a much deeper process of negotiation and cooperation. Every single Blue Line position is agreed upon by representatives from both Lebanon and Israel.
UNIFIL’s Senior Political Officer, John Molloy, details the process, “When we come to build a barrel it's in centimetric precision, so you can see it's a very precise and accurate procedure. What we have found now with 10 years of success, is a very high level of professionalism from both parties. They come with their cartographers to carry out measurements and work with UNIFIL in a most professional manner.”
The summer sun climbs in the sky, and both the UNIFIL and LAF Blue Line teams move quickly and efficiently through the measuring process. The coordinates of two points are measured before UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary, joins the teams at the next point close to the Sheikh Abbad Tomb, in Houla.
He watches the UNIFIL and LAF teams carefully measure, check and mark their coordinates. He says that the visible marking of the Blue Line is “really important” as it allows an instant reference for both parties, as well as the residents living alongside, to be able to see where the Line of Withdrawal is. “Both parties support this process; it's a strategic issue and we have to keep working on marking the Blue Line,” he adds. “The aim is to continue to work with both parties to get the entire Line marked with inter-visible markers so everybody has a clear reference where the line is to prevent any inadvertent crossing.”
Brigadier General Mourad concludes, “The UN Security Council Resolution 1701 largely focuses on the Blue Line, and the marking process of the Blue Line is an essential stage towards achieving the ultimate goal of resolution 1701, which is the transition from the cessation of hostilities to a state of permanent ceasefire.”
BACKGROUND ON THE "BLUE LINE":
The 120km Line of Withdrawal, or “Blue line” as it is more commonly known, was established by the United Nations in the year 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. At a tripartite meeting in 2007, both parties agreed to visibly mark the Blue Line on the ground.
It is important to note: The Blue Line does not in any way represent an international border and is without prejudice to any future border agreements between Lebanon and Israel. The Blue Line marking process is an ongoing tripartite project to foster mutual trust and to diffuse tensions. Blue barrels also directly contribute to the security of the people living on both sides of the Blue Line by preventing inadvertent crossing.
To date, UNIFIL in coordination with both parties, has measured 282 points, and 268 Blue Line Barrels have been constructed.
Key message
Civilians, in conflict affected and newly re-taken areas of West Mosul, face severe protection concerns and lack access to basic services. With forced displacement still ongoing, over 700 000 individuals had been displaced from West Mosul, by end of June.
Since the beginning of the Mosul military operations, on 17 October 2016, over 1 000 000 Iraqis have been displaced. 821 000 remain displaced, 45% in camps and the remaining in out of camp locations, predominantly in Eastern Mosul. There are currently total 3.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq and 2 million returnees.
The UN estimates that over 200 000 people are to be directly affected by prospective military operations in Telafar, Western Anbar and Hawidja. Limited presence of humanitarian actors in Western areas of the country, the surge of violations against civilians fleeing Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) controlled areas and families with members with perceived or suspected ISIL affiliation, are critical concerns.
On 13 July in Washington, Commissioner Stylianides announced €30 million of additional humanitarian support to reinforce principled humanitarian emergency response and address critical protection and assistance gaps throughout the country. This brings the total EU humanitarian assistance in Iraq to almost €340 million, since 2015.
The European Union calls on all parties to the conflict to protect affected civilians by fully respecting International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants, and Iraqi law, safeguarding the rights and humane treatment of all those displaced, due process and minimum conditions in screening and detention.
NRC in 2016: our year in review
We assisted millions in 2016. It wasn’t easy.
The numbers were bleak. Nearly 66 million people were on the move, fleeing conflict and disaster. But we persevered.
In 2016, displacement figures topped the charts yet again. As the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) scaled up, our 2016 annual report details, we supported more than six million people throughout the year – improving 2015 achievements by nearly 27 per cent.
A balancing act
As conflicts across several countries persisted and worsened, as in Syria, new emergencies arose in places like Afghanistan, Burundi, Iraq and Yemen. In South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, major security constraints hindered our ability to reach affected families. The drought in the Horn of Africa created devastating ripple effects, and will most likely continue to do so. Closing borders, meanwhile, particularly affected people entering Europe.
With stark competition among crises for attention and funding, we strove to balance our efforts between well-covered emergencies and neglected displacement crises. A symmetrical balance was more pressing than ever before, as shortages and distress deepened globally.
Reaching the isolated
Humanitarian agencies often struggle to reach people in volatile, remote places. In 2016, we focused on improving our ability to stay and deliver in these situations.
We established new emergency programmes as crises unfolded, like in Tanzania, and sent surge capacity to existing country operations. We worked on procedures that will help us negotiate access into hard-to-reach areas.
We also forged better relationships with local partners. In Syria and in Iraq especially, this allowed us to reach people we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to assist.
Our innovation work also helped us reach more. Technologies and cash, for instance, helped us reach our goals. In 2016, we developed a niche expertise in delivering cash assistance in high-risk areas – a quick and efficient way to reach people and allow them to obtain the materials they need.
The report
The Annual Report 2016 breaks down NRC’s global achievements for the year, presenting an overview of our programme and thematic activities. The report also gives snapshots from the field, highlighting specific country achievements.
Introduction
This report summarises the findings of eight focus group discussions conducted with Syrian refugees, Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS), and Palestine refugees from Lebanon (PRL) in four different governorates in Lebanon. This is the second in a series of three data-collection rounds looking at refugee perceptions of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon under the Mixed Migration Platform (MMP). The discussion topics were designed by Ground Truth Solutions based on the findings of perceptual quantitative surveys conducted in March 2017.1 The aim is to delve deeper into the issues that surfaced in the survey. More background and information about the methodology can be found on page 8 of this report.
Reading This Report
This report presents main findings from the focus group discussions with the main conclusions drawn from each discussion topic. Where relevant, we also include bar charts for several questions from the first round of quantitative data collection with responses quantified on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. The charts show the distribution (in %) of answer options chosen for each question – with colours ranging from dark red for negative answers to dark green for positive ones. The mean or average score is also shown on a scale of 1 to 5.
This report covers four broad themes – changes over six months and awareness of aid; the relevance and quality of services; fairness and discrimination; and respect and participation. The report also details key concerns or recommendations that surfaced from the discussions.
