Lebanon Support: Nahr El-Bared Statistical Report

Foreword
In 1948, one hundred thousand Palestinians fled to Lebanon from Palestine, mainly from Haifa, Acre and the Galilee. In Lebanon “temporary” camps were established to provide shelter to the refugees. Today, most of the refugees live in camps that are still precarious settlements even if they have become more like permanent neighborhoods, or they live in clusters of Palestinian homes outside the camps, in the so-called “gatherings”. They are reported to face the worst living conditions among the Palestinian refugees in the host countries in the Middle East. In a situation characterized as one of physical misery, fear and insecurity, most refugees face very limited employment opportunities and possess scant economic resources.
In May 2007, clashes between the Lebanese army and Fath el Islam in Nahr El-Bared Camp, led to the destruction of the camp, the displacement of entire families and the aggravation of the already vulnerable conditions of the community. Although the situation in Nahr El-Bared has stabilized, it remains fragile and thousands of families still rely on Aid to cope with the necessities of daily life.
The Nahr El-Bared Statistical Report is based on the data gathered through the IDP & Returnee Database, one of the main components of Lebanon Support’s Emergency and Recovery Information System (ERIS). It responds to an information gap on the situation of displaced, Returnees and Semi-Returnees as well as it provides the humanitarian, recovery and development actors with relevant data to better address the needs of the Palestinian refugee community in North Lebanon.
Lebanon Support is an NGO aiming at supporting and enhancing information sharing and coordination, in the goal of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian, recovery and development response.
The Report was developed and authored by Lebanon Support, in collaboration with Handicap International (HI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO), United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and supported by the European Union Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).
This long awaited report is ready for use and is indented to serve as a tool for UN agencies, NGOs, professionals, donor organizations, journalists and academics in developing a comprehensive overview of the current issues of concern regarding the well being and recovery of the Nahr El-Bared community. It constitutes a base for further research, investigation and reflexion and aims at highlighting the most prevalent characteristics and current trends regarding recovery of the Nahr El-Bared camp. Comments, additions and suggestions are welcome and can be sent to: [email protected]
Lebanon Support would like to thank the team in the field and in the main office for their commitment and work, the local organisations and more specifically those in the Nahr El-Bared and Beddawi area, for their trust and support. We would also like to thank Handicap International (HI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as well as the European Union Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) for their financial support.
Finally Lebanon Support hopes that this report can be of support to NGOs, international organizations, policy-makers, UN agencies and the donor community in developing strategies and policies that can enhance the quality of life and the dignity of the Palestinian community in Nahr El-Bared Camp and in Lebanon as a whole.
Lebanon Support
Beirut, February 2010