Needs Assessment of Syrian Refugees with Disabilities in Central and West Bekaa, Lebanon

The current crisis in Syria has been going on for well over a year and the situation remains volatile and is in fact worsening over time. This is highlighted by recent descriptions of the conflict as an actual civil war, the recent assassinations of the Minister of Defence and other top ranking officials and the increased level of violence of the conflict in general terms. These factors suggest it is highly unlikely that the security situation in Syria will be improving enough in the near future as to allow the safe return of the refugees and displaced persons to their homes. At the time this report is completed, the number of Syrian refugees registered with the Office of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in the neighbouring countries has reached over of 108,000. The Lebanese government is coordinating closely in the northern region of the country with UNHCR and is recently starting to implement some actions in the Bekaa Valley for the refugees settled in this area. With Lebanon hosting over 30,000 refugees, the local and international organisations as well as local authorities in the Bekaa especially, have a major role in the emergency service provision and are carrying out an admirable job given the limited resources and often difficult circumstances. This particular needs assessment has aimed at analysing the current situation of persons with disability mainly in the Bekaa area, for the most part due to the current resources and facilities that MPDL currently has, although the fact that the Bekaa has been a region where refugees have received less attention until relatively recently.