Lebanon: Beirut and Mount Lebanon Governorate Profile
OCHA
(as of 4 March 2014)
Location
Map
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Governorates of Beirut (20 km²) and Mount Lebanon (1,984 km²) are the main urban areas of Lebanon. Mount
Lebanon is divided into six districts: Baabda, Aley, Matn, Keserwan, Chouf and Jbeil.
LEBANON
Mount
Lebanon
Beirut
Home of half of Lebanon’s population, Beirut and Mount Lebanon make up the center of the country’s most of social,
economic, political and cultural activities. The majority of trade and industrial activities are also concentrated in the
area. The governorates also include 10 per cent of Lebanon’s agricultural land.
Capital
Whilst the area gives off an initial image of being affluent, there is nevertheless poverty in especially the suburbs of
Beirut. Ouzaii on the southern seaside (Baabda) and Nabhaa in Sin el Fil (Metn) are particularly marginalised.
POPULATION OVERVIEW
Beirut and Mount Lebanon have a population of almost 2 million, with Beirut being a melting pot with all religious confessions represented. Mount
Lebanon is predominantly Christian, but with large pockets of Druze and other religious groups living in the southern and eastern parts of the
Governorate.
Only 109 Lebanese returnees have registered with the High Relief Committee in Beirut, whilst just over one thousand are registered in Mount
Lebanon. Their priority needs has been identified as being health and food.
The number of registered Syrian refugees in Beirut and Mount Lebanon have increased from less than 90,000 in July 2013, to more than 225,000
in February 2014. Partners are concerned about the large number of unregistered refugees who are understood to be living in the area. It is also
1,910,912
Beirut and Mount Lebanon
original Lebanese Population from 2002 CAS dataset.
308,019
People living below
the poverty line (less than $4 a day)
Palestinian Refugees
11%
14%
75%
226,480
Syrian Refugess
Registered as of 27 February, 2014
66,460
Registered Syrian Refugees
Lebanese Population
Lebanese Population living
below poverty line
41,155
25,248
59,000
Palestinian
Refugees in Lebanon
P
428,166
41,320
8,190
9,300
P Shatila
P
P Burj EL Barajneh
Baabda
El Matn
Aley
P Palestinian Camps
41,606
403,339
163,872
Dbayeh
Mar Elias
Palestinian
Refugees from Syria
520,165
Beirut
There are four Palestinian camps in Beirut and Mount Lebanon: Shatila,
Burj El Barajneh, Mar Elias and Dbayeh. Home of 59,000 Palestinian
Refugees, they also host migrants and refugees from other vulnerable
communities, due to the relatively low cost of living in the camps. The
camps also host 9,000 Palestinian Refugees from Syria. Shatila and
Burj El Barajneh are especially known for their damp and overcrowded
shelters, narrow streets and low quality living conditions.
2,501
161,292
153,324
Kesrouan
Chouf
80,754
Jbayl
Humanitarian Intervention
Number of Partners
per District
12
15
19 - 20
21 - 25
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
With only 12 Informal Tented Settlements in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the vast
majority of refugees live in rented accommodation. The number living with host
families have steadily decreased whilst that of those renting has increased,
suggesting a saturation in both the availability and willingness of the local
community to host refugees. Due to the expensive housing market in large parts
of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, as well as the limited amount of available land,
shelter is a major concern for humanitarian partners. With it comes challenged in
terms of WASH and health interventions, which whilst available are generally too
expensive those requiring humanitarian assistance.
Security Situation
Recent months have seen a deterioration of the security situation in Beirut and
Mount Lebanon, especially in Greater Beirut where Sunni and Shiite communities
converge. There has been an increase in bombings and suicide attacks in the
southern suburbs, but also in Downtown Beirut. Some humanitarian activities
have at times been suspended or decreased with certain areas being deemed
no-go.
In some areas, the communities or groups are putting in place and enforcing their
own security measures. This has been the case in urban areas such as the
southern suburbs of Beirut, but also in the northern part of Mount Lebanon.
Curfews for certain groups (mainly Syrian refugees) have also been applied in
some areas.
Jbayl
Kesrouan
Beirut
El Matn
Baabda
Aley
Chouf
Total *
Beirut
4
5
7
4
8
2
7
3
4
Baabda
5
5
7
6
8
5
7
4
11 23
El Matn
5
4
7
3
7
2
4
3
6
19
Aley
4
2
5
3
7
2
3
2
4
20
Kesrouan
3
3
5
7
3
1
4
3
15
Chouf
4
3
6
8
3
3
4
5
20
2
2
4
7
1
1
2
4
12
Jbayl
1
25
* Total number of organizations operating in each
district
Livelihood Sector
Social Cohesion Sector
Disclaimer: The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Data Source: Lebanese Population - Central Administration of Statistics (CAS),
Syrian Refugee Population and Humanitarian Intervention Data - UNHCR,
Palestinian Refugee Population- UNRWA