HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND COPING STRATEGIES OF
REFUGEE POPULATION OF NAHR AL-BARED CAMP
NORTH LEBANON
Author: Dr. Fares EL-Zein
Supported by: Divya Mukand and Magda El Sanousi
August 2008
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
Oxfam GB responded to the humanitarian crisis of July 2006 war in Lebanon, and
continued its humanitarian responses following the armed conflict in May 2007 in
Nahr Al Bared camp (NBC), North of Lebanon. This resulted in the influx of
thousands of Palestinian refugees from NBC to Beddawi camp, other adjacent areas,
and/or camps in Lebanon. After end of the war in September 2007, Oxfam GB started
repair of the water and sewage system in the adjacent camp, through financial
assistance to Oxfam Novib that supports national partners.
This study comes as an activity in a project funded by ECHO under the theme of:
“Livelihood Support to the Most Vulnerable Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon affected
by the Conflict in the Nahr El Bared Refugee Camp” that forms part of the overall
ECHO multidimensional humanitarian assistance to Nahr Al Bared population during
the recovery phase; post the end of the armed conflict.
We would like to therefore extend our gratitude and appreciation to ECHO in
Lebanon, namely Alain Robyns, DG For Humanitarian Aid and Mona Imad,
Programme Assistant for their continued feedback to the survey process and
comments on the draft Terms of References (ToRs) and preliminary findings.
Our appreciation goes to Ms. Divya Mukand, Oxfam GB Livelihood Advisor who
contributed to the methodology design including the Household Income
questionnaire, focus group discussions, and meeting with key informants from various
organizations, as well as Dr. Fares EL-Zein from the American University of Beirut
who contributed to the whole survey and prepared the survey report. Reem Askar,
Masters graduate in Public Health; from the American University of Beirut has
contributed in the data tabulation and analysis with high level of professionalism and
commitment. Our appreciation goes to her for the good work she performed. Equally,
we do appreciate the support of UNRWA, namely Fadia Jaradi, Income Generation
Officer, UNRWA for providing lists of registered persons to select for the survey, and
other key informants from the INGOs, and UN agencies shared their valuable
experience to feed into the study.
Palestinian Arab Women League (PAWL), Oxfam GB partner has contributed
significantly in the logistic issues and support to the Livelihood Advisor as well
availing their field team to make the contacts and arrange for various Focus Group
Discussions. Without the support of PAWL this study would have not have
materialized.
We thank as well the 11 data collectors from PAWL and other Oxfam partners who
patiently and professionally filled the questionnaires in timely manner, despite the
political tension and the termination of the process at some point.
We extend our appreciation all and above to the community members for sharing their
information with us, for their open and transparent attitude, for letting us listen to
them and hear their voices.
And finally, my special thanks go to Oxfam GB team in Lebanon for their support to
the survey, namely Roula Abi Saad, Programme Officer and Bassel Hadid, Finance
Officer.
Magda El Sanousi
Regional Partnership Programme Manager – Middle East, Oxfam GB
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
7
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
7
9
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
10
1.3 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
1.4 OUTLINE OF THE REPORT
2. FINDINGS
12
13
2.1. Characteristics of Sample
2.2. Household Income
13
13
2.3. Household Expenditure
2.4. Restarting Businesses
2. 5. Coping Strategies
16
19
21
2.5.1 Debt
24
2.6. Vulnerability in NBC
26
3. SUMMARY
28
4. RECOMMEDNATIONS
29
5. REFERENCES
32
Figure 1: Distribution of population Across Income
Brackets
11
Figure 2: Main Sources of Household Income pre-NBC
and post-NBC Crisis
12
Figure 3: Distribution of Displaced NBC Refugees in NBC
Across Expenditure Brackets
13
Figure 4: Distribution of Displaced NBC Refugees in
Beddawi Across Expenditure Brackets
14
Figure 5: Components of Household Expenditures
14
Figure 6: Household Coping Strategies Often and Daily
Used
18
Figure 7: Household Coping Strategies Generally Used
18
3
Figure 8: Reasons for Household Debt
20
Figure 9: Sources of Money Borrowing
Annex 1 – Tables
Table 1: Household Health Expenses Coverage
21
Table 2: Education Levels
Table 3: Household Basic Needs
Table 4: Household Average Monthly Expenditure in
NBC Adjacent and Beddawi
Table 5: Components of Household Monthly Expenditures
Table 6: Household Average Monthly Income
Table 7: Main Sources of Household Income Pre-Crisis
and Post-Crisis in NBC Adjacent and Beddawi
Table 8: Reasons for Household Debt and Sources of
Household Debt Money
Table 9: Displaced NBC refugees Who Have restarted
their Businesses
Table 10: Types of Revived Businesses
Table 11: Existing Assets and Facilities to Restart
Businesses
Table 12: Needed Assets and Facilities to Restart
Businesses
Table 13: Household Coping Strategies Followed by
Displaced NBC Refugees
Table 14: Household Coping Strategies for NBC adjacent
Displaced NBC Refugees
Table 15: Household Coping Strategies for Beddawi
Displaced NBC Refugees
Table 16: Household Coping Strategies and Income
Table 17: Categories of Displaced NBC Refugees
According to Vulnerability Status
4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The main objectives of this study are to establish baseline data for the volume and the
sources of household income and expenditure of NBC population post conflict and to
identify the coping strategies that the population adopts in order to compensate for
lack of income. Based on the results, the study is expected to develop a set of
vulnerability indicators to help Oxfam GB and other actors in their programme
targeting of vulnerable groups among the displaced NBC refugees
(whether those who returned to NBC adjacent area or those who are still residing in
Beddawi Camp and other neighbouring areas).
To achieve the above objectives, the study used household questionnaire survey as its
quantitative research method. In addition, the research team extensively relied on
focus group discussions to cross validate findings of the survey, and interviews with
key informants inside and outside the NBC and Beddawi were conducted.
After NBC crisis, there has been a change in the structure of household income. The
importance of causal labour, remittances, SHC money, and support from other
agencies significantly increased as major sources of household income. The
importance of household income generated from ownership of a shop or business
decreased due to the destruction and loss in that sector. The most significant change
post NBC crisis when it comes to household income was the increased reliance on
UNRWA money whether it be SHC money or rental subsidies. In addition, reliance
on remittances has more than quadrupled after the crisis.
53% of displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent households have an income of less
than USD 366 per month, compared to 37% of displaced NBC refugees in Beddawi
area. The top three items on the list of highest household expenditures are food, health
and education in that order with food expenses constituting about 26% of total
expenditure. 50% of displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent area spend more than
USD 366 per month, compared to 82% of displaced NBC refugees in Beddawi area,
which indicates that the purchasing power of Beddawi refugees is better than NBC
returnees to the adjacent areas, due to better economic opportunities in Beddawi.
Despite the challenges facing economic revival of refugees, many have already
restarted their businesses. The challenges facing them are lack of physical
infrastructure, reduced market demand, market saturation, increased prices of inputs
and limited mobility to and from the adjacent camp.
The analysis informed that displaced NBC refugees have stretched their coping
strategies thin and are highly dependent on the social services provided by the United
Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA). Some people have stopped their medicine
intake because of the total lack of cash needed to buy medical services or medicine
that is not provided by UNRWA. Others have started selling the contents of the food
portions distributed to them by UNRWA and other local and international NGOs to
earn some extra cash. Bartering of food items from the food baskets (e.g. milk and
sugar) is also a common phenomenon.
To compensate for lack of income, households in NBC adjacent and Beddawi follow
several coping strategies the most frequent of which are: reduction of food quality and
quantity, spending from personal savings, and taking relief from humanitarian
5
organizations. As for the most important coping strategies followed by households,
increasing the number of work hours, taking relief from NGOs, and stop buying raw
material for businesses rated as top three. Female heads of households added “selling
jewellery” as a major coping strategy.
Although not rated by interviewees as a top coping strategy, debt is a major
component of household income. 60% of households are indebted. Reasons for debt
for displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent are attributed to business, food, and
housing. As for displaced NBC refugees in Beddawi, the three major reasons for debt
are loans for businesses, food and health, and housing needs. Social network and
support is significant among refugees, accordingly friends and relatives are the first
option for borrowing money and private traders come second.
Depending on the sources of income and expenditure three categories of vulnerability
were identified. It is generally acknowledged that all displaced NBC refugees are
vulnerable given the immense loss of resources and assets they have incurred, and
their decreased ability to adapt to changes in environment because of lack of financial
resources. Nevertheless the most vulnerable today are those families that resided in
the Old Camp and have consequently lost their houses and businesses. Levels of
vulnerability increase as a result of elements that specifically increase the average
household expenditures such as the presence of large number of dependants with
no/only one earning member, family members with chronic diseases, non working and
or/disabled head of households, elderly with non-working children, women headed
households with no support from natal families and no source of income. In the less
vulnerable category are those families that own their own homes or business premises,
casual labourers who can get work on a regular basis or those who have businesses,
those with regular monthly remittances and strong links with political parties/NGOs.
The least vulnerable are those people who have steady income either through formal
employment or property rents or support from extended family.
The study has proposed multidimensional recommendations to include on the top that
cash assistance is the backbone of the survival of the refugees and its elimination on
the short and medium terms will harm the refugees and should be lined up with the
reconstruction phase of the camp. The study recommends improvements in service
provision to establish a scheme for chronic diseases that absorbs a high portion of
household income and influences the sufferings of sick people, in particular the
elderly. It also suggests different ways to consider employment creation for refugees
that should be monitored along the reconstruction phase to be labour intensive. This
should be backed by a market analysis for small and medium businesses. A strong
recommendation is to improve transparency in the programmes and policy of
UNRWA (e.g. rental policy) and NGOs/INGOs so that the intended beneficiaries do
not feel a sense of disempowerment. Methods of feedback on quality and quantity of
aid provided by organisations should be strengthened through the local and Popular
Committees. Food portions should match the size of a family. Replacement of food
portions with food coupons should facilitate revival of the economy of the area.
However cash assistance should also be given since the food items constitute a
potential source of income in case of emergencies. Advocacy by the international
community is needed to ensure the protection of refugees including access and free
mobility to and from the camp as an issue of dignity. Coordination and information
sharing between all concerned actors (NGOs, INGOs, political parties, government
6
bodies and institutions, UNRWA) is essential to ensure a comprehensive plan to
revive the NBC to its former glory.
7
1. INRODUCTION
1.1
Background
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are among the largest Palestinian refugee groups in
the region. They are scattered in around 13 Palestinian refugee camps all over
Lebanon with a total population estimated at nearly 400,000. While relatively
integrated into the Lebanese social fabric, they have not so far secured civil rights
which in large limit their capacity to secure adequate means of living and sustained
income. National and regional instability have been main factors affecting refugees
politically, socially and economically in Lebanon. UNRWA is the main UN body
charged with Palestinian refugees in the region. It provides basic services (health,
education, water etc), although limited and often constrained by inadequate financing
of its mandate. UNRWA moreover does not have a protection mandate on Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon, leaving them vulnerable to diverse security challenges. The civil
society and political parties are other sources of support for refugees including among
others provision of vocational training, micro credit, and cash for hardship cases etc.
The economy of Palestinian refugees is highly dependent on the Lebanese economy
including recession or inflation. Their means have varied from micro, medium and
large enterprises, formal employment with private businesses and employment with
Palestinian NGOs as well as UNRWA. UNRWA as well is linked up with some Arab
gulf countries to facilitate the migration of youth, in particular the graduates of the
vocational training. The revival and flourishing of businesses inside the camps is
attributed to the tax-free context of the camps that are outside the scope of state
authority and legalization processes.
Nahr Al Bared Camp NBC has been among the most well off camps in the North
given its adjacent position to the North Highway and location near the Syrian
boarders. This location has facilitated the establishment of a large market where
neighbours from Tripoli and other locations in the North used to do business with
people and access their market that is described as duty free, with lower prices as
compared to the Lebanese market.
Nahr Al Bared camp, which was established in 1950, woke up last year with a severe
armed conflict between the Lebanese Army and the Fateh-al-Islam a radical religious
group that resulted in the displacement of residents to Beddawi camp and other areas
in Tripoli. The Government of Lebanon declared an end to hostilities on 2 September
2007, after three months of armed conflict. As a result of the war the original camp
(now called the Old Camp) was completely destroyed and still remains out of limits
for refugees while the new buildings established around the original camp (NBC
Adjacent area or New Camp) also suffered heavy damagei.
Due to the fighting, over 30,000 Palestine refugees fled their homes and took refuge
in the neighbouring Beddawi Camp and other Palestine refugee camps in Lebanon.
The struggle for control of NBC, which involved heavy aerial and artillery
bombardment, was the most serious case of internal fighting in Lebanon since the end
of the Civil War in 1990.
Camp facilities have been seriously damaged in the course of the fighting with
currently available estimates suggesting that up to 85% of the camp infrastructure has
been fully or partially destroyed. Water services in the camp are not functioning and
8
most of the water reservoirs and tanks that serve the camp have been severely
damaged.
An aerial picture of NBC CAMP post-crisis
As a consequence of the displacement from NBC, the population of Beddawi Camp
(to which the majority of displaced persons fled) increased from 16,000 to more than
30,000 exacerbating the already congested living conditions of the residents and
overburdening the existing infrastructure. The extent of the hostilities has placed
severe pressure on the refugee families hosting those displaced.
Physical damage in the NBC is estimated at more than USD 200 million with another
USD 100 million in infrastructure and socio-economic impacts in the conflict-affected
areas surrounding the camp. Costs to rebuild a more secure, environmentally sound
and economically integrated camp and surrounding area are estimated to be equal to
USD 445 million. Apart from its humanitarian, social and economic repercussions,
the conflict severely strained Lebanese-Palestinian relations and it now threatens the
stability of the whole country should it expand to include the other 11 camps in
Lebanon (Lebanese Government, Vienna Policy Paper, 2008).
Equally important, the conflict led to the loss of revenue sources for most of the NBC
residents. The fighting destroyed the heart of NBC production systems, the physical
premises of its pre-war prosperous market. As reported by UNRWA’s post-war study
on businesses in NBC, only 1/4 of the existent micro, small and medium enterprises
managed to reactivate, with the majority restoring the basic business foundations
(Jradi, 2008). Hence, added to the loss of residence, significant loss of income has
crippled the displaced NBC refugees’ ability to restart their businesses, until the
destroyed camp comes back to life through the reconstruction plan provided by the
Lebanese Government.
9
The initial emergency responses during and directly after the armed conflict included
securing basic needs such as water, health, sanitation, food, clothes and other
necessary items. However, the need for cash remained a concern to facilitate
procurement of basic needs, transport etc. People’s loss in terms of their income was
tremendous and has reached millions of dollars. The return of refugees to NBC
adjacent area has followed the cease-fire, and a commitment from the government
was expressed to rebuild the camp for the displaced refugees to return back. UNRWA
escalated efforts to rent houses, and build prefabricated houses for returnees with
other agencies and NGOs including international NGOs that started providing basic
infrastructure to returnees to allow them to re-settle.
A total of USD 60.31 million has already been pledged by the international
community to UNRWA for Relief Assistance. UNRWA will be launching an
additional Relief and Early Recovery Appeal to secure the financing needed for its
relief efforts after August 2008 (Lebanese Government, Policy Paper to Vienna
Conference, 2008).
1.2 Objectives Of Study
The main aim of this study is to understand the coping strategies and current income
and expenditure patterns of vulnerable households affected by 2007 war in NBC in
order to improve interventions of various stakeholders currently and in the future.
The main objectives of the study are to:
a) Establish baseline data for the volume and sources of household income and
expenditure
b) Identify Coping strategies of the people who returned to NBC after the end of
war, as well as those who remain in the neighbouring Beddawi Camp and its
vicinity
c) Explore in general terms existing businesses and challenges facing the sector
d) Identify based on (a) and (b) the vulnerable groups among the NBC refugees
and the vulnerability parameters
e) Use findings to make recommendations to inform other actors (NGOs / INGOs
/ UN agencies, members of livelihood Cluster, government, ECHO etc) of the
present situation of internally displaced people of Nahr Al Bared camp
The main output:
This study is expected to help Oxfam GB and other actors to develop
indicators/parameters to measure progress / impact of interventions and to improve on
ways of working and practices to secure the welfare of Nahr Al Bared population and
to be better prepared for the reconstruction phase.
1. 3 Methodology Of The Study
This study is conducted at three levels in order to meet the objectives. First, the senior
research team reviewed the existing secondary data of Nahr Al Bared population.
Thereafter a household survey questionnaire was developed to measure sources of
10
income and expenditure as well as the various potential coping mechanisms. The
questionnaires have been filled as face-to-face interviews with the selected sample.
Third to realistically validate the data, the research team arranged focus group
discussions as well as meetings with key informants.
1. 3.1 Time and Location
The study took place in NBC adjacent area (New Camp), the Beddawi Camp, and
Jabal Beddawi areas over a period of 18 days (July 1st – July 17th, 2008).
1. 3.2 Research Team
The research team was lead by OXFAM GB Regional Partnership Program Manager
in Cairo. The team was composed of 2 senior researchers - an Oxfam GB Livelihoods
Advisor to design research methodology and tools, and a Senior National Researcher
to accompany the research design and implementation with Oxfam GB Advisor.
In collaboration with OXFAM GB local partners, a team of 11 research assistants (7
young women and 4 young men) was selected from among NBC and Beddawi Camp
residents.
Palestinian Arab Women League (PAWL) team in NBC adjacent provided Field
research logistics among others.
1.3.3 Research Process
The research process was as follows in chronological order:
ƒ Review of Secondary Information on the NBC 2007 crisis
ƒ Development of quantitative analysis tool (household survey questionnaireii)
through secondary research, inputs from Oxford based EFSL team, and inputs
from Lebanese team of research assistants RAs.
ƒ Field testing of the questionnaire and its finalisation
ƒ Training of research team, composed of 11 research assistants, on questionnaire
administration
ƒ Development of a qualitative analysis tool (Focus Group discussions) based on
literature review, interviews with key informants and discussions with PAWL
staff and local field officers
ƒ Random selection of 240 households out of a total of 1500 households that lost
businesses during 2007 war (Refer to sampling technique)
ƒ Household questionnaire administration by 11 research assistants who alternated
between men and women respondents in order to ensure a gender balance
ƒ Eight focus group discussions with separate men and women’s groups in NBC and
Beddawi camps by Senior researcher and Livelihoods Advisor
ƒ Interviews with selected Key Informants by Senior researcher and Livelihoods
Advisor that included: NBC Camp notables, traders, owner of pharmacies, doctors
and midwives in all 3 major clinics in NBC, members of Popular Committee and
Umbrella Party and representatives of UNRWA, International Labour
Organisation (ILO), Mercy Corps, Premiere Ugence and Lebanese Palestinian
Dialogue Committee (LPDC)
11
ƒ
ƒ
Data Entry and Data Analysis through SPSS by expert in quantitative research
based in Beirut
Compilation of Final Report and sharing it with partners and members of
livelihood cluster.
1.3.4 Household survey Sampling
The sample size consisted of 240 households selected through systematic random
sampling from two sources of data:
ƒ
ƒ
100 households were randomly selected from a PAWL (Palestinian Arab Women
League) list that included 350 households that lost their businesses due to 2007
crisis
140 households were randomly selected from the UNRWA list that included all
the households that lost their businesses during 2007 crisis, the total number of
which is 1500.
Both lists included households from NBC adjacent, Beddawi, and Jabal Beddawi.
1.3.5 Limitations and Constraints
The tense security situation in Tebbaneh led to interruption of fieldwork. FGDs were
resumed on the 16th and 17th of July, 2008. Due to security situation, daily debriefs
with research assistants had to be conducted via conference call, since senior
researchers of research team were pulled out of field from day 3 to day 6 of the
surveying process and had to resume work later.
Most families in the NBC know one another. Selection of research assistants from the
NBC adjacent area and Beddawi Camp may have hampered participants from
revealing full details about their household income and expenditure. Attempts were
made to minimize this effect by asking researchers to refrain from interviewing those
households that they know well.
Constant movement of people between Beddawi and NBC as well as within Camps
made it difficult to locate participants to interview them. Oxfam GB Logistics Officer
heavily relied on phone calls to locate residents and ask them for appointments.
UNRWA information of those who have lost their businesses and their places of
residence was 6 months old. At the time of conducting the survey, many have already
changed their place of residence, making the process of locating them more time
consuming.
Because of the small number of sample from Jabal Baddawi, it was dissolved with the
sample from Beddawi while analyzing research results.
1.3.6 Lessons Learned
ƒ Random selection of participants for the household survey was a good strategy
12
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Selection of research assistants who themselves were residents of NBC and
Beddawi camps helped to locate participants as well as to initiate dialogue with
them
Daily debriefing sessions and discussions held within the research team (research
assistants and senior researchers) helped get insights from the research assistants,
which enriched the study
Checking the filled questionnaires each day on a random basis to prune out those
questionnaires that were incorrectly filled
Good Team planning and work segregation ensured that different members of the
team managed to speak to a range of people to get an overall picture of the
situation in NBC and Beddawi camps.
13
2. FINDINGS
2.1 Characteristics of Sample
The bulk of the study respondents were Palestinians (95%) with 22.1 % registered as
Special Hardship Cases (SHC) with UNRWA living in the NBC adjacent area. There
were 59% male respondents and 41% female respondents. The majority of the heads
of households are men (91%) whereas only 9 % of houses are headed by women who
are mostly either widowed or never married. Around 73% percent of the male heads
of households are able to read and write compared to roughly half of the spouses.
Besides Arabic, English is the most common language (50%) followed by French,
Russian and German.
2.2 Household Income
This section discusses the different sources of household income for displaced NBC
refugees in NBC adjacent area as well as Beddawi area. Moreover, the section
provides an estimate of the present income of the population and how the population
is divided across income brackets with a comparative perspective on NBC displaced
refugees in NBC adjacent as well as Beddawi.
One of the most recurring problems expressed in focus groups and during key
informant interviews is lack of cash to satisfy increasing needs. It is the lack of cash
that forces displaced NBC refugees to heavily rely on UNRWA’s assistance in
provision of rental subsidy, food portions, medical care, and education. Hence, the
lack of stable sources of revenues constitutes the major problem that hinders displaced
NBC refugees’ capabilities to cope with sudden changes in environment.
The current monthly income for 53% of the NBC households is less than 550,000 LL
(USD 366) compared to 37% of Beddawi residents (Figure 1). There is a clear
difference in income distribution between displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent
and displaced NBC refugees in Badawi area. While 47% of displaced NBC refugees
in NBC adjacent earn more than USD 366 (LL 550,000), the number goes up to 63%
for displaced NBC refugees in Beddawi (Figure 1). This indicates lower economic
activity in NBC due to large destruction in residences and business premises.
14
Figure 1: Distribution of Population across Household Income Brackets
Incom e Brack e t
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
NBC IDP's
30.00%
Beddaw i IDP's
20.00%
10.00%
LL
25
0
LL
00
30 029
0
9
LL 00
0
35
34 00
0
9
LL 00
00
00
40 039
0
9
LL 00
00
45 044 0
0
9
LL 00
00
0
50
49 0
0
9
00
00
0
0
54
9
LL 0
0
55 0
0
00
0
0.00%
Top sources of household income before NBC crisis were ownership of a shop of
business, SHC money from UNRWA, casual labour and services. After NBC crisis,
there has been a change in the structure of household income. The importance of
causal labour, remittances, SHC money, and support from other agencies significantly
increased as major sources of household income. The importance of household
income generated from ownership of a shop or business decreased due to the
destruction and loss in that sector.
As Figure 2 below shows, sources of household income have shifted after NBC crisis.
While the support from UNRWA in the form of SHC allowance constituted around
9% and 13% of gross household income for displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent
and Beddawi respectively pre-NBC crisis, this proportion went up to around 19% and
72% respectively post-crisis, indicating an increased dependency on UNRWA money
as a major source of household income. The same could be concluded regarding
support from agencies other than UNRWA that constituted around 1% and 3% of
gross household income of displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi
respectively pre-NBC crisis. Now, reliance on such assistance has more than doubled.
It constitutes around 9% and 5% of gross household income of displaced NBC
refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi respectively.
15
Figure 2: Main Sources of Household Income Pre-NBC and Post-NBC Crisis for
Displaced NBC Refugees
Main Source of Income for Displaced NBC Refugees in NBC adjacent
before the war vs. presently
60.00%
Main Source of Income
before the war
Main Source of Income
Presently
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
Sale of food given
as aid
Teacher/Govt/ UN
staff
Employee in
private business
Rent from property
Agriculture/fishing
Support from
agencies other
Pension/allowance
Own a shop or
business
SHC
money/UNRWA
Services
Remittances
0.00%
Casual labour
10.00%
Reliance on casual labour as a source of household income has also increased post
NBC crisis. While household income from casual labour constituted 5% and 10% of
gross household income for displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi
respectively pre-NBC crisis, such proportion has risen to 13% and 14% respectively
indicating an increased dependency on casual labour to fill the gap for loss of
permanent work due to destruction of business premises. Casual labour opportunities
outside the camp are not considered very safe by the refugees. Men from NBC who
work for 5 days in a week in Beirut and return to the camp on weekends said that after
the war they have faced increasing hostility from Lebanese in Beirut and also in
Tripoli. They feel they have been blacklisted. People do not want to employ them and
they don’t want to work with them. Men are afraid that they will be killed at night
while they are asleep.
Reliance on employment in educational institutions and UN agencies as a major
source of household income has also increased. While income from such employment
constituted about 3% and 5% of gross household income for displaced NBC refugees
in NBC adjacent and Beddawi respectively pre-NBC crisis, it now constitutes around
6% and 8% of the gross household income, signalling an increased reliance on
employment in educational institutions and UN organizations. In fact the NBC crisis
brought much job opportunities with UNRWA in various sectors, and hence
succeeded to accommodate more refugees.
Reliance on remittances as a major source of household income has increased post
NBC crisis. While 2% and 3% of the gross household income was derived from
remittances pre-crisis for displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi
respectively, the percentage rose to 5% and 15% respectively. This indicates the
strong social solidarity and networks among family members outside the camp and
also outside Lebanon.
16
Reliance on selling food given as aid has also increased after crisis. While 1% and 0%
of the gross household income was derived from the selling of food given as aid preNBC crisis for displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi respectively,
the percentage rose to 14% and 5% respectively. Selling food indicates either the
household does not accept the food provided by UNRWA and/or food selling
becomes a necessity to buy items that relief agencies do not provide. In any case, it is
a source of cash.
Observations from Figure 2 indicate an increased reliance on cash support from
UNRWA and other agencies. It also indicates increased reliance on remittances as a
major source of income. The data also implies an increased reliance on casual labour
and employment in educational and UN institutions to substitute for loss of
businesses. Last, the phenomenon of selling components of food portion indicates the
un-suitability of the present system of food support and the need to design a new
system allowing displaced NBC refugees a larger margin in selecting the components
of food aid. A coupon or a voucher system might prove more suitable to the needs of
the displaced refugees.
Sources of income in survey results and focus group discussions reveal that displaced
NBC refugees heavily rely on UNRWA to provide for rent subsidy (USD 200 per
month), either through cash payments to displaced refugees or through direct
payments to owners of residential units. Many people reported that they live in
cramped conditions (renting unsuitable spaces like garages) and pay cheap rent and
use the saved money on essential items like food to save rent and use the cash for
other needs such as food or medicines.
Another observation related of UNRWA subsidizing rent fees pertains to the clarity of
standards and criteria according to which rental subsidies are decided. Displaced NBC
refugees are not fully aware of the criteria used to decide for their selection for rental
subsidy from UNRWA. The criterion for house rent is that 3 families should share a
house. They should not be related e.g. where brothers are sharing or son living with
father they will not get this subsidy because no one pays rent to elder brother or
father. This is a rental subsidy and expected to support families to also meet other
costs like electricity, water bills. Currently about 3000 families get rental subsidy
from UNRWA.
An example of how this confusion negatively impacts people was related by a woman
whose husband used to own a business before the war. Due to loss of his machinery
after the war he became a daily wage labourer in a construction unit inside the camp.
The couple started living in their brother’s house after the war and built a bathroom
and room after taking a loan of 500 000 LL. They thought that they could repay the
loan with the UNRWA rent subsidy. However UNRWA refused on the grounds that
they were living with their brother and would not pay rent. As a result the man’s
wages are today being consumed almost entirely to repay the debt. Another example
was of newly married couples who are thoroughly investigated by UNRWA officers
to ‘check’ whether they are really married or not. This can be a humiliating
experience since all their belongings (including undergarments) are checked. The
popular committee reported 400 cases of pending rental subsidy cases.
17
Summary
NBC economy is not a subsistence economy. It is very much commercialized.
Refugees within NBC never relied on agriculture to survive. Cash money was a major
means through which residents could provide themselves with necessary services preNBC crisis. How to assist NBC to regain its role as a commercial hub should be the
focus of the interventions to come. Providing displaced NBC refugees with food,
water, medication, and shelter will not last forever. An income generation scheme is
the only way to decrease the dependency of displaced NBC refugees on UNRWA’s
and other donors’ services.
2.3. Household Expenditure
This section discusses the average expenditure levels among displaced NBC refugees
in NBC adjacent and Beddawi. The composition of the expenditures is studied and
prioritization of expenditure items is conducted.
About 50% of households in NBC adjacent have a monthly expenditure lower than
LL. 550,000 (USD 366) compared to 18 % of Beddawi households (Figures 3&4)
Figure 3: Distribution of Displaced NBC Refugees in NBC across Household
Expenditure Brackets
Average Monthly Expenditures
Displaced NBC Refugees in NBC
4.44%
6.66%
4.44%
250000-299000 Lbp
300000-349000 Lbp
11.85%
350000-399000 Lbp
400000-449000 Lbp
49.62%
450000-499000 Lbp
9.62%
500000-549000 Lbp
more than 550,000 Lbp
9.62%
Food is the basic source of expenditure where the majority of households spend 26%
of their total expenditure on food items (Figure 5). Buying medicines (19%),
education fees (18%), repaying loans (11%) and house rent (10%) are the most
significant sources of expenditure with average spending ranging from 150,000 LL
(USD 100) to 300,000 LL (USD 200) per month. Since the data reveals that most of
income is spent on food purchase, while selling the relief food was reported as a
source of income, then one could argue that the food provided tends not to be the
desired choice of refugees and hence they sell and buy more food that could be more
cost effective for refugees.
18
Figure 4: Distribution of Displaced NBC Refugees in Beddawi across Household
Expenditure Brackets
Average Monthly Expenditures
3.61%
Displaced NBC Refugees in Beddaw i
2.40%
1.20%
1.20%
4.81%
3.61%
250000-299000 Lbp
300000-349000 Lbp
350000-399000 Lbp
400000-449000 Lbp
450000-499000 Lbp
500000-549000 Lbp
more than 550,000 Lbp
81.92%
About 82% of monthly household expenditure goes on food, education, medicines,
debt repayment and rent (Figure 5). “Rent” was calculated as expenditure only for
those households that pay their rental in cash and then receive rent cash subsidies
from UNRWA. There should be always noted that interviewees tend to exaggerate
their expenditures and conceal some of the sources of incomes they receive.
Figure 5: Components of Household Expenditure
Components of1%
Family Monthly Expenditure (in %)
2%
1= Food
2= Medicines/health care
2%
2%
3= Education/vocational
training
0%
4%
26%
5%
4= Repay loan/debt/instalment
on goods purchased earlier
5= House Rent
6= Buy raw m aterials/inputs for
business
10%
7= Transport
8= Rent for Business prem ises
11%
19%
18%
9= Utility bills (Gas, electricity)
10= Water (for drinking &
cooking)
11= Social events
(weddings/parties)
12= Water (for washing,
Figure 5 indicates that despite of support provided by UNRWA and other local and
international humanitarian agencies, households are sill spending the major bulk of
their income on food, health, and education, in addition to debt repayment. This
19
indicates a gap in education and medical health provision by donor institutions. The
gap forces household members to shift a considerable portion of their income (82%)
to satisfy basic household needs such as food, health and education. Table 1 (in
Annexure) indicates that 46% of households cover their health expenses from their
own household income.
Among the monthly household basic needs, food comes first (see Table 3 in
Annexure). Around 95% of respondents indicated that the main source of securing
food is through cash, as compared to 13% indicating that the need for food is basically
met through donations. 80% of respondents indicated that medicines and health care
needs are basically met through cash. 82% indicated that education / vocational
training needs are basically met through cash.
“I was seriously injured in NBC fighting. My leg got amputated twice. UNRWA
paid for those two surgeries. I still need to be operated on. The third surgery costs
USD 7000. UNRWA refused to cover the expenses of this surgery. Moreover,
UNRWA does not pay for any medicines I am taking. They consider that
treatment is over. I try to get money for my medicine from my brothers.”
Ibrahim Khaled Faour, Beddawi resident
The major sources of expenditures within the household are food, education, and
health (see Table 3 and Table 5 in Annexure). Those major sources of expenditures
are basically covered through cash money. The numbers provided about household
income in the previous section would complete the picture. With 53% of displaced
NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and 37% in Beddawi earning less than USD 366 per
month, there exists a gap between levels of income and the need to satisfy food,
health, and education requirements.
Summary
Displaced NBC refugees are coping with lack of income through increasingly relying
on UNRWA services. To deal with UNRWA limited resources, the displaced refugees
rely on their relatives to provide them with the cash needed to provide for their
medicines. Others just stop their medicine intake until their health situation turns
critical. As displaced NBC refugees stretch their coping strategies to their limits, there
needs to be thinking on how additional funding could be provided for sustaining the
present levels of health coverage, while household income slowly starts to regain its
pre-crisis level.
2.4 Restarting Businesses
The gap between low income of displaced NBC refugees and insufficiency of aid
provided by humanitarian agencies highlights the need to provide cash to displaced
NBC refugees. While there could not be any action taken to increase the flow of
remittances to displaced refugees, the major source of increased income could come
through job creation for displaced NBC refugees.
This section studies the present revival of businesses post NBC crisis. It highlights the
assets / facilities presently available to restart businesses in addition to needed assets /
facilities to restart businesses. Last, this section elaborates the facilitating / debilitating
factors that affect the capacity of displaced NBC refugees, especially those residing
20
now in NBC adjacent, to restart their businesses and turn them into income generating
entities.
According to UNRWA damaged business survey, most of the enterprises report a
shortage of machinery or stock, a clear indicator of under-capitalization, the latter of
which is normal given weakness of present business financing programs.
According to survey results, 88.6% of male-headed households respondents are
operating their businesses compared to 90.9% of the female heads of households.
However, only 73% of female-headed households have revived the same business
operated before the war compared to 75% of male heads of households who have reoperated the same business (Table 9, Annexed). This result reflects the willingness
and determination of refugees to seek income, even though within a shrinking scope
as compared to their earlier businesses.
77.2% of households are currently managing one business whilst 21.1% are operating
two businesses. Among the most activated businesses are grocery stores, painting,
barbers and mechanics. Bakeries, tailors and carpentry are the second operated
businesses. Other vocations and professions undertaken are nursing, selling sweets,
teaching, water sanitation and tiling. All of the activities feature positive changes in
securing income within small and medium enterprises.
Previous experience (47.9% of respondents), tools/machines (30.5%) and raw
materials (27.4%) are the assets that exist at the disposal of male heads of household
to restart their businesses.
Tools (70%), savings (51%), raw materials (49%) and premises (30%) are the most
required assets / facilities that are needed by male heads of households to revive their
businesses.
61.5% of female heads of households indicated that they do own assets / facilities to
revive their businesses. Females headed households reported they had previous
experience/skills (50%), tools/machines (33.3%), raw materials (33.3%) and premises
for running a business (25%). The main assets needed by female-headed households
to revive businesses were tools/machines (61.5%), raw materials (61.5%) and savings
to invest in business (53.8%).
There is a marked disparity between female and male headed households when it
comes to access to financial capital to revive business. Male-headed households
reported that they have access to savings (4.3%), access to loans (5.5%), and
remittances from relatives (1.2%) to revive businesses whereas female-headed
households reported they did not have access to any of these sources (0%).
2.4.1. Facilitating and Debilitating Factors to Re-start Businesses
In addition to capital, tools, premises and raw materials to re-start business in
Beddawi or NBC adjacent area, the following were mentioned as debilitating factors
negatively affecting the re-start of businesses, especially in NBC adjacent area:
ƒ
Lack of market for goods / consumer base: The purchasing power of the refugees
in NBC adjacent is very low given their low income (53% earn less than USD 366
21
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
per month). Mostly people pay in installments and sometimes after the first
instalment, do not pay again resulting in loss for the shopkeeper.
Loss of the considerable Lebanese customer base due to the restriction on their
entry into the camp by the Army at the check posts which regulate entry/exit into
the camp. Moreover, Lebanese suppliers who used to provide NBC merchants
with transportation and delivery services are prohibited from entering the Camp.
Mismatch between supply and demand that is a result of absence of any market
study guiding the provision of microfinance or donations to newly re-starting
businesses. In some areas there has been reduction in population while at the same
time numerous stores of the same type (e.g. grocery) have opened (mismatch of
demand and supply)
Previous mounting debts are not allowing many business people to continue to
acquire new goods on credit line from suppliers.
Men and women who live outside the camp and operate businesses within the
camp face problems of high transportation costs as well as the fact that they need
to renew their permit to enter the camp every month.
People who live within the camp now need to close shop for a day and leave the
camp to replenish their stock resulting in loss of business for a day. Earlier
suppliers used to do door to door visits.
Damaged infrastructure prohibits refugees in NBC adjacent to commute easily
within the Camp.
Added to lack of transportation infrastructure, the limited availability of electric
current (4-6 hours in 24 hours) is impacting businesses e.g. electrical machines
like sewing machines can only be operated for a short time.
High rental fees of business premises as a result of increased demand on
residential use of business premises subsidized by UNRWA.
Security situation outside the NBC adjacent, where some Displaced NBC refugees
in NBC adjacent are concerned about their personal safety outside Camp
premises.
In FGDs it appeared that women typically operate businesses as: Hairdressers, Beauty
salon owners, selling cosmetics; clothes; shoes, tailors and grocery stores. On the
other hand men typically operate businesses as: mechanics, grocers, hardware and
constructions material; pharmacists; fruit and vegetables shops; bakers. Women felt
that it is more difficult to be a businesswoman than a businessman because even if
men lose their businesses they have other options (men have better risk taking
capacity). They can turn to construction work, carpentry, they can even sell on the
road and during the days and late evening/night. Women are restricted within shops
and usually do not operate their business after daylight.
Work opportunities for women are mostly limited to inside the camp
ƒ Open a shop like grocery, tailor, hairdresser etc. (Inside the camp)
ƒ Pick vine leaves and sell but this is risky because the vineyard owners don’t want
them to pick (Outside the camp)
ƒ Work as agricultural labourers for 7000LL per day. This happens in Sector A of
NBC where women pick vegetables on agricultural fields outside the camp. When
men go they plough the fields and earn as much as 20000-25000 LL a day.
However this is not a preferred activity. About 20 women from sector A go to
plantations. Only women whose husbands are older and who have large families
and need other source of income go for this work. (Outside the camp)
22
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Sell fruit and vegetables. They used to do this before the war but now they find it
is difficult to leave the camp due to the check posts and procure fruit and
vegetables (Inside the camp).
Work in hospitals and NGOs and as teachers but these options are limited and
with the destruction of hospitals and schools there are very few jobs.
Work as sales persons in shops in Tripoli and Beddawi. As a salesperson in a shop
on Beddawi a girl can make 100 USD a month and in Tripoli 300 USD but they
usually opt for Beddawi because of hostility from Lebanese in Tripoli.
Summary
Refugees of NBC have already started to strive to revive their businesses to have
income (cash). Yet, they are faced with the reality of the new context based on market
demand and supply and also the purchasing power of the poor refugees and the poor
infrastructure that affects their businesses as well as the rising prices of business
inputs. Marketing studies and innovative approaches for business development require
attention. Unless refugees start to secure sustained income aid provision will be
prolonged. While reconstruction of the Old Camp will absorb men into the
construction business opportunities for women who do not engage in this sector will
need to be actively explored and encouraged.
2.5 Coping Strategies
This section discusses how displaced NBC refugees cope to bridge the gap between
high household expenditures and low incomes due to loss of businesses.
As previously argued, NBC economy is a highly commercialized economy with cash
being the major means to acquire assets needed for survival. Hence, income is the
definitive factor in deciding on the vulnerability level of a certain family or
household.
Displaced NBC refugees have to be innovative in coming up with ways to either
reduce their expenditures or increase their incomes in order to provide for their basic
needs. Those ways are what this study examines under “Coping strategies”.
As reported through survey results, reduced quality of meals consumed, buying cheap
food, reduced expenditure on health care, and spending income from own savings are
coping strategies that were rated highest as being “often” used (Figure 6).
23
Figure 6: Coping Strategies “Often” and “Daily” Used by Displaced NBC Refugees
Coping Strategies
45
40
35
30
25
Often %
20
Daily %
15
10
5
0
1
1
2
3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Skipped a meal or reduce portion size
Reduced quality of meals eaten (e.g.:
meat and dairy)
Only buy cheap food
6
7
Purchase food on credit
Borrow food from neighbours/
relatives/friends
Grow some herbs and making food at
home that would normally be bought to
save money
Cook with relatives to save fuel
8
Use wood as fuel and use wood ovens
4
5
9 Stopped sending children to school
10 Sent children to work
Stopped sending children to
11 University
Reduced expenditure on health
12 care
13 Support from working relatives
Taken relief from
14 NGOs/INGOs/UN
15 Spent Income from own savings
Reduced/stopped paying utility
bills (electricity, water, cooking
16 gas etc)
17 Took additional loans
Sent elderly family members
18 away
Sent disabled family members
19 away
20 Sent children away
Buying cheap food, using wood as fuel, using wood ovens and taking relief from local
and international NGOs and UN agencies rated highest as being used on “daily” basis
(Figure 6).
In general, increasing the number of hours of work, not buying basic items such as
furniture and cloths, migration and immigration, and selling wedding jewellery were
the most frequently used coping strategies (Figure 7)
24
Figure 7: Coping Strategies that are generally used by Displaced NBC Refugees
Coping Strategies
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
Yes
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
No
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Increased number of hours of work in a day
Not buying basic items, such as furniture, clothes to save money
Migration/ emigration
Sold wedding jewellery
Looking for any type of work regardless of qualifications
Shared houses to save rent
Increased the number of people who are working in the family
Sold Household assets
Sold business assets
When asked to rate the top 5 coping strategies used in NBC adjacent, displaced NBC
refugees chose increased number of working hours (18.8%), taking relief from NGOs
and humanitarian organizations (17.3%), stopping purchase of raw material for their
businesses (15%), selling jewellery (13.9%), and reduced the quality of food (13%)
(Table 14, in Annexure).
When asked to rate the top 5 coping strategies used in Beddawi area, displaced NBC
refugees in Beddawi made the same choices as displaced NBC refugees in NBC
adjacent (Table 15, in Annexure). It is therefore, to earn income refugees are willing
to work more and by necessity to eliminate the least priority items and sell women’s
jewellery (saving in gold) to have cash. It is clear, if business assets are available,
refugees don’t sell as their means to earn income. Lack of income is also a pushing
factor for the migration of young people. Many started to accept any work that could
be below their qualifications to earn income.
Stopping purchase of raw material for their businesses (66% of respondents), reduced
quality of food (59%), and selling jewellery (53%) were the top three coping
strategies selected by displaced refugees whose income ranged between 250,000 LL
and 299,000 LL (USD 150 and USD 200) (Table 16, Annexed). Worth noting is that
even when the family’s income is between 400,000 LL to 499,000 LL (USD 266 –
USD 300), increase the number of work hours (90%) was still one of the top coping
strategies, followed by stopping purchase of raw material for business (72%), and
reduction of quality of food (65%). As for residents whose income bracket is higher
than 550,000 LL, the coping strategies are as follow: increase in the number of
working hours (70%), stopping purchase of raw materials (68%), and selling jewellery
25
(58.8%), as well as reduced quality of meals (40.9%) (Table 16). This may imply that
stopping purchase of raw material for their businesses, increased the number of work
hours, and reducing the quality of food are coping strategies most frequently used
regardless of the income bracket of the household.
As number of household family member increases, selling wedding jewellery and
sharing food with relatives become prominent coping mechanisms (Tables 17-20,
annexure). It was also realized that increase in the number of work hours and taking
relief from NGOs are recurrent coping mechanisms no matter what the size of
household is (Tables 17-20, annexure). Last, reduced quality of meals was the top
coping strategy cited by residents of UNRWA temporary residences (Tables 21-25,
annexure).
Other coping strategies that were identified through FGDs, with no clear estimate as
pertaining to their frequency of use are:
Livelihoods
ƒ Turning to casual labour e.g. construction work within the camp
ƒ Diversification of livelihood strategy: scaling down of business e.g. a woman still
gets cheap clothes from Syria which she sells from her home on a very small
scale. However, she is also going daily to a vineyard to collect leaves, which she
sells in the camp in the evening (leaves are edible).
ƒ Adapt businesses to meet the needs of the camp today e.g. one man who used to
make pastries and gateaux was advised to start off by making ‘local bread’ that
could currently be in demand and would support the local people. At a later stage
he could again resume making pastries and gateaux. Another man who used to
have an ice cream making factory can no longer do so firstly because of lack of
stable power supply and secondly demand is less. Therefore he is making pastries
and bread.
Some common ways of saving money
ƒ Women are not spending on beauty salons e.g. they are not getting eyebrows
made, are not buying cosmetics and are dyeing their hair themselves instead of
visiting a salon.
ƒ People have stopped Sunday family outings and holidays.
ƒ Sharing taxis to save transportation costs to work
ƒ People don’t buy new clothes or buy cheaper clothes e.g. earlier if they bought on
garment for 50USD today they will buy more no of garments for the same amount
of money many are still wearing winter clothes in summer
ƒ Accepting donations of household items like utensils from UNRWA, TVs from
FATEH and fridges by relatives. People have shared some household items like
cupboards etc with more needy neighbours and relatives.
ƒ Vulnerable people like widows, elderly have moved in with siblings/children
ƒ Using wood instead of gas as fuel
ƒ Sharing washing machines (one machine for 4 families)
ƒ Heating water (for shower purposes) through filling Plastic bottles and exposing
them to extensive sun light
ƒ Not giving pocket money to children
ƒ Buying (not baking bread) since cost of flour is too high
26
ƒ
Growing some vegetables in home gardens in Beddawi and Sector A in NBC
where land is available adjacent to the home (sufficient only for 3-4 meals in a
month)
Irreversible or Harmful Coping Strategies
Food
Reducing the quality of food emerged as one of the top coping strategies for people.
People said that earlier they used to eat chicken and meat twice a day but now they
only eat it once or twice a month and fruit is rare. They felt that this would negatively
impact their children in the long run.
The quality of the distributed food is also an issue. People tend to hoard food supplies
from UNRWA and NGOs for the days when they cannot earn a daily wage. As a
consequence often, food like potatoes, rot. People also reported worms in the canned
food distributed by UNRWA. There is no mechanism of feedback to the different
agencies on quality or type of food that is distributed. Indeed the dependence of the
refugees on food aid is such that they fear to complain of the quality/quantity of
distributed food. The issue of empowering refugees to demand food aid of a qood
quality and sufficient quantity as a right, rather than a donation, needs to be looked at.
Facts: Food Aid
Currently the three major sources of food aid are UNRWA, Harriri foundation and Islamic
Association.
i) In NBC and Beddawi the Monthly Food basket from UNRWA and SHC bimonthly food
basket for SHC families- people appreciated the items because they are mostly durable but
the quantity is very less (not family specific) and sometimes the quality is not good
ii) In NBC people get potatoes, chicken, garlic, bread, eggs, eggplants etc. every other day
from the Harriri Foundation via Fateh party
iii) In NBC, the Islamic Association gives 9 bread pieces every other day, which is not
sufficient for whole household
However, food aid is insufficient to meet needs of large families as statistics show that
26% of household expenditure is on food. 28.7% of respondents in NBC and 20% of
respondents in Beddawi reported that they are in debt due to their food needs despite
buying cheap food. This reflects the complaint of many families that the standardised
food portions are not tailored to family size and therefore insufficient. At the same
time 14% of respondents in NBC and 5% respondents in Beddawi reported that they
sell food aid for cash purposes. This points to the fact that some items of food aid may
not be preferred by beneficiaries. In FGDs beneficiaries reported that they sell items
of the UNRWA food basket specifically lentils, tuna and beef meat which is not really
preferred so it is sold to buy flour for bread. People also reported bartering items of
the food basket e.g. milk powder for sugar. The sale of essential items like milk
powder for cash is a serious issue since it has implications for overall nutrition of the
family.
27
There have also been changes in the diet habits of people due to the new environment
with women reporting that they are replacing bread with more potatoes and rice
(distributed in food baskets) and eating more canned food.
Wherever land is available and cultivable (Beddawi and Sector A in NBC) people are
cultivating small vegetable plots, which yield some vegetables for 2-3 meals in a
month.
Sale of Assets
Women reported selling of gold jewellery for cash. Approximately 58% of
respondents reported selling wedding jewellery for cash. Sale of business and
household assets was low (around 9% and 7 % respectively) although this is probably
because people have suffered heavy losses in the war and may not have these assets to
dispose off any more.
Health
The decrease of medicine intake seriously jeopardizes the health of elderly and
infants. 17.3% of respondents answered that they have reduced expenditures on health
care due to lack of cash. Some people also said that they take medicine only when the
illness is unbearable to save on costs e.g. a woman suffering form a skin rash said that
she does not apply the ointment until the rash is really based to save expense of
buying the ointment.
In the medium run, reducing expenditures on primary health care could reflect in
increased future expenses on hospitalization services. Hospital patients of the future
would be now displaced NBC refugees who have stopped caring about their primary
health.
High transportation costs and lack of availability of specialized medicine impact
people’s health status in the camps as is highlighted in the following story. A woman
has a son and a daughter both of whom are physically and mentally retarded. She
thought it would be a good idea to take her son to a psychiatric hospital where his
treatment would be free and she could save some expenses. However now that she has
started doing this she finds her expenses have actually gone up as compared to before
because of the high transportation costs to the hospital. Her daughter needs a specific
medicine, which is only occasionally available at the UNRWA clinic.
Facts: Health situation
Before the war there were 7 mini hospitals in NBC but now there are only 3 clinicsUNRWA, CRCS and Asheefaa. The 3 clinics remain open from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. daily.
Usually a general physician is available everyday and there are visits by specialists on specific
days. In case of emergency, the Red Crescent arranges for people to be taken by ambulance to
a nearby hospital.
There are 4-5 pharmacies in the NBC doing good business. Common cases at the time of the
visit were ear infections and diarrhoea and vomiting. The reason for the latter when discussed
with local pharmacists and people was that with rising temperatures and lack of fridges and/or
absence of electricity people are consuming spoilt food.
A lot of people also seek medicines such as tranquilizers and pills to calm nerves pointing to
the high degree of psychological shock and trauma and stress that people are still
experiencing. Many people appreciated the reimbursement of medicines by NGO ALSomoud at the end of every month. However recently this has stopped because of the
cessation of Norwegian aid. This is supposed to be resumed after a month. Through
28
Norwegian aid disabled people also receive: ear phones, wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetic
shoes, diapers for the elderly, special low beds.
The health situation in Beddawi and Jabal Beddawi appeared to be much more prominent in
people’s discussions than in Bared. Many people said that a good portion of their monthly
income is being spent on medicines and many were taking loans to cover the same.
Accommodation
Many households reported paying less rent than 200 USD given by UNRWA and
using the saved money for other household items. One woman in Beddawi refused to
compromise on quality of food for her children so she shifted to a garage to save rent
and ensure that her children got proper food. Living in cramped and overcrowded
spaces is having a negative impact on people’s quality of life. In some cases where
families have shifted in together to share rent and other utility costs there can be upto
10-18 members sharing one garage. Normally garages have only one door and no
ventilation. There are no toilets/bathroom (people share toilets in other people’s
houses) and seepages on the walls (which is harmful for people suffering from
bronchitis). Women reported feeling of intense depression and unhappiness at being
forced to live in the prefabricated houses. The lack of information about when
reconstruction would begin in the Old Camp gave people a sense of despair. UNRWA
has plans to build houses for 234 families and NGOs Premiere Ugence, ACTED and
Norwegian Refugee Council and PARD plan to repair/rebuild houses for about 700
families that are currently living outside the NBC. However people did not seem to be
aware of any of these plans.
Another issue emerging from the changed living patterns is of family bonds. Before
the war, refugees preferred to live close to their relatives’ houses. After the war
families have got scattered i.e. while one brother may be in Bedawi, another may be
left in NBC and parents and unmarried siblings in Tripoli. This has led to loss of
social support. The flipside of the picture is the overcrowding of families into 2-3
bedroom houses e.g. two brothers and their families has led to increased friction
between families.
Facts: Housing
A key problem faced by people is very poor housing conditions. The prefabricated houses
provided by UNRWA are 5x3 ft and very cramped. There is a one-size fit all whether a family
consists of 5 or 12 people and there is no privacy for married couples. Beneficiaries, who are
slightly better off have used savings/borrowed money to change the locks on the door (the
same key opened all the doors), strengthen the roof, strengthen window frames (make floors
better- earlier water used to stand on the floor). Some people are installing western style
toilets instead of the Arabic ones installed earlier.
The proximity of the houses to each other means that people can hear everything going on in
their Neighbours’ houses- there is NO privacy. The houses get very warm in the summer and
the infrequent electricity supply does not help. While men still cope by not wearing shirts,
women have to mostly wear their thick black outer robe since anyone can look easily inside
their house at any point. In Sector 23 of sector A the concrete houses have been made on
donated agricultural land. This land is shifting and as a result the houses are developing
cracks. Around 15 houses are not safe for living. The residents have brought this to the notice
of UNRWA through the local committee.
29
Education
Stopping to send children and youth to school and university because of lack of cash
for transportation or for payment of university tuition will have, in case sustained, a
serious impact on the knowledge and skills of the displaced NBC refugees. In some
cases students have had to change from their preferred courses e.g. accounting to
another course e.g. English to save on transportation costs (the former requires daily
attendance and the latter only few days in a week). Such impact would affect the skills
pool within the camp and hence the job opportunities for those who lost their chances
to acquire necessary theoretical knowledge or practical skills.
The analysis of coping strategies in NBC reveals the existence of strong networks of
extended families, friends, and civil society organizations. Borrowing cash and food
from relatives and friends, sharing washing machines, cooking with relatives to save
on gas, receiving support from working relatives are all examples of the existence of
strong community ties. Those ties make it slightly easier for displaced NBC refugees
to survive their ordeal. An additional indicator of strong family ties is the refusal to
send family members away (0% used coping strategies). Such strong social capital
could be capitalized upon in future relief efforts.
Facts: Education
“Before the war we used to say, ‘NBC is like an eastern society but in terms of
education it was like a western society’ i.e. girls and boys were both sent to university.
The camp was famous for its economic strength and close ties to Lebanese’
Now: “People do not have money to send their children to university. There is a girl
who comes from a rich family. This family used to give help to other families. Today she
cannot go to university because she can no longer afford the money to reach the
university. Who can ask her the reason for the tears in her eyes?”
Jamaal, NBC, Sector C- Former Ice Cream Factory Owner
Earlier there were 3 schools in the camp and now there is only one. As a result there is
overcrowding of children (about 30-35 children in one classroom a little bigger than the
prefabricated houses -3 ft X 5 ft). The school is built of the same material as the
UNRWA prefabricated houses. In April it becomes uncomfortably hot and people
reported that everyday 6-7 children had to leave class because of overcrowded and
stuffy conditions.
Most parents, especially women have now been forced to start working, cannot check
up on their homework. Children also are less focused and attend as a matter of course.
There is a youth centre for children run by SCF which is doing well and youth go there
and play football etc but this will close down after a year when funding stops. Then
there is no common space for youth to meet and expend energy especially since work
opportunities are very few.
Summary
NBC refugees have adopted various coping mechanisms in response to change
context in particular the meagre cash. Data revealed that some of the coping
mechanisms harms physically and health wise of the people such as reduction of food
intake and failure to purchase medication. Other future implications include the
increased loss in human development as people have stopped sending children to
higher education. Working additional hours, may allow more exploitation of refugees
30
who don’t have any civil rights in Lebanon. Social safety nets and coherent networks
allow the refugees to cope with the crisis, and whereby communal support becomes
evident for survival.
2.5.1Debt
This section highlights household debt as a major coping strategy to substitute for
weak income and increased expenditures. The importance of looking at debt is the
fact that its accumulation would fail the capacity of families to go back to the normal
situation. With limited and uncertain income, debt turns to be a harming coping
mechanism.
A significant amount of family income comes from debt. 60% of respondent
households reported to be in debt. Displaced NBC refugees in NBC adjacent borrow
money mostly for business needs (47.2%). Food need is the second reason (28.7%)
whilst housing need is the third major cause of debt (24.4%). As for displaced NBC
refugees residing in Beddawi, the three major reasons behind debt are loans for
business (42%), food and health (20%) and housing needs (12.9%), (Figure 8).
Figure 8: Reasons for Household Debt
Reasons for Debt
50.00%
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
NBC Residents
N
Ed
ee
ds
uc
at
io
n
N
ee
H
ds
ou
si
ng
N
ee
Pa
Bu
ds
yi
s
ng
in
e
O
ss
ff
N
In
ee
st
ds
al
m
en
tG
oo
ds
H
ea
lth
Fo
od
ne
ed
s
Beddaw i Residents
Friends and relatives are by far the first option for borrowing money for displaced
NBC refugees in NBC adjacent and Beddawi (55% and 49% respectively). Money
lenders (individuals) and private traders (suppliers or shop owners) are often deemed
as a second option for money lending (Figure 9) which indicates the possibility of
imposing interest rate on borrowers.
31
Figure 9: Sources of Household Money Borrowing
Source of Money Borrowing
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
NBC Residents
30.00%
Beddaw i Residents
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Friends/
Relatives
NGOs
UNRWA
Bank
Money
lender/
Private
trader
The same frequencies for debt are observed for female and male heads of households.
26.7 % of the indebted households noted that they owe more than 600,000 LL (USD
400), where 7.4% owe between 300,000 LL and 499,000 LL (USD 200 and USD
333). Up to 50% of these households do not know when they can repay the loan
whilst 15% may repay in the short time limit (between 6 – 12 months) and 12% in the
coming two years.
The large number of indebted households (60%), as well as the significant number of
households that do not know when they repay the loan (50%) is a strong indicator of
lack of cash money within households. A household would not borrow money to
secure luxury items. The borrowed money goes to buying food, securing health,
decent housing, and restarting businesses, which are all basic household needs.
Last, household debt is not to be attributed solely to NBC crisis. NBC traders have
incurred debts to renovate or restock their businesses pre- NBC crisis. Now, NBC
merchants find themselves unable to repay previous loans. The Lebanese Palestinian
Dialogue Committee (LPDC) is discussing ways to repay debts of displaced NBC
refugees or to negotiate with Lebanese Banks a formula to relieve NBC merchants of
the increasing burden of debt and interest payments that have been accumulating since
the end of NBC crisis. However, as can be seen from Figure 9 only % of respondents
reported taking loans from Banks. Giving feedback and information to LPDC on the
quantum of debt from other sources should help to work out ways to help other people
also.
Summary
Borrowing cash is considered in the context of refugees as one of the coping
mechanisms that harms them due to uncertainty of repayment back, while forced to
take to cover other basic needs. Unless food, housing, medical treatment are
adequately met, taking loans would be the pattern among refugees.
32
2.6 Vulnerability in NBC
People’s vulnerability is reflected in Jamaal’s (a resident of Sector C) words, ‘The
BEST family today has enough cash to meet the needs of his family for 3-4 days at the
most. After that they don’t know. The poorest families, they only know for each day:
They know nothing about tomorrow.’
This section highlights the degrees of vulnerability of different households of
displaced NBC refugees. It provides indicators to categorize the degree of
vulnerability of a certain household. Such indicators are heavily related to levels of
expenditures and income within the household.
It is specifically the lack of financial assets that is at the core of vulnerability context
in which displaced NBC refugees live. Cash could provide decent residence, food,
water, and could start a new business, thus pushing a household towards less
vulnerability. Conversely, increased household expenditures in the cases of large
families and chronic diseases push a household further into vulnerability status.
Hence, and according to discussions with displaced NBC refugees, there could be
designed a three-level module of vulnerability in NBC, with different groups of
displaced NBC refugees belonging to one of the three levels / categories.
All displaced NBC refugees who have lost their residences and businesses are
vulnerable. Their vulnerability stems from the fact that they have lost their shelter as
well as their businesses the latter of which are essential for income generation.
The degree of vulnerability is significantly enhanced or reduced depending on the
micro-economic outlook of the household, i.e. income and expenditures. The higher
the monthly expenses of the household, the more vulnerable it becomes. High
expenses could be a result of chronic diseases in household, large number of children,
large amounts of previous debts, absence of working children and / or large number of
children presently at university, etc.
Similarly, the absence of income generation source in a household worsens its
vulnerability status. The total destruction of business premises, the advanced age of
household residents (households composed only of the elderly), the weakness of
remittances from relatives, etc. all are factors that worsen the vulnerability status of a
household.
Conversely, a household could push itself away from vulnerability status while
earning more income through increasing the numbers of working hours, starting a new
business, and/or communicating with relief agencies the latter of which could
subsidize certain expenditures so that portions of income are released and spent on
other household needs.
Hence, income is critical for families to move away from their vulnerability status.
Income provision either through work, remittances or rents would improve the
vulnerability context in which displaced NBC refugees live. Work however, is the
33
most preferred source of income to the displaced NBC refugees for the reason that it
allows them to regain a dignity they felt they lost through charity offered to them by
local and international aid providers.
Table 17 below categorizes the households of displaced NBC refugees into three
categories according to their levels of vulnerability, primarily determined by income /
expenditure indicators.
Table 17: Categories of Displaced NBC refugees According to Vulnerability Status1
The Most Vulnerable / •
A family that has lost its residence and business premises
Factors Enhancing
within the old NBC or even within the NBC adjacent area.
Vulnerability
•
A family that has large number of dependents (5-10
dependents) with only one income earner
• A family composed of elderly people who do not have
children to support them
• A family composed of elderly people who have children
who are not earning income
• A family with a disabled head of household
• A family in which there are chronic diseases such as
Cancer, heart, kidney diseases, with high medical expenses
• A family that does not have relatives outside the camp to
send remittances
• A divorced / non working woman with no maintenance
payments from the husband to support the children
• A single / widowed / non working woman with no support
from her family
The Vulnerable
• A family that has a daily wage earner who is able to earn
money on regular basis (example: those who work in
construction outside the NBC adjacent)
• A family that owns its house or business premise (financial
and physical assets)
• A family that has a business (financial asset)
• A family that has good link with functioning local and
international NGOs
• A family that has a large extended family living close by
OR gets regular monthly remittance from relatives outside
the camp.
The Least
• A family that owns property that can be rented
Vulnerable/Factors
• A family that has a regular source of income via a member
Lessening
who is employed in the formal sector
Vulnerability
2.7 Impact of the War on Men and Women
The Palestinian society is patriarchal in nature with men being the main breadwinners
and occupying political and public spaces. Loss of employment has made men
psychologically frustrated. Men reported that they feel like they have become the
‘women of the household’ especially in cases where they are not earning and their
wives are bringing in money. Today in households where women are operating small
businesses and their husbands are unemployed, men have to ask their wives for
money even for small items like cigarettes. However their place as head of the
1
Annexure 2 provides vulnerability indicators that could be used by interested humanitarian aid
agencies to improve their targeting.
34
household is unchanged and they remain in charge of taking all household decisions.
Women say they do not wish to change this status quo. They fear that if a decision has
negative consequences they will be blamed.
Women who are operating businesses or have adopted new livelihood strategies are
now facing the double burden of reproductive and productive work (their daily
workload has increased by 5-8 hours). While their stress has increased due to
increased responsibility to find food for children there has been no increase in their
decision making power within the household. Azziza’ s story depicted in Box 1 below
is a clear example of this.
Azziza’ s story depicts the Increased burden for Women.
Before the war, Azziza (a resident of the Old Camp) rented three shops and had her own
shop in which she sold clothes. The income from these activities combined with her
husband’s job as a taxi driver supported their 8 children very comfortably.
The war of 2007 destroyed all their property. Azziza’s husband no longer has any work
and she now picks leaves to earn a living. After completing her household chores, she
leaves her house everyday between 7 -8 a.m. She shares a taxi with 5-6 other women (taxi
costs 8000LL/day) and goes to a vineyard half an hour away from the NBC. Here she
picks between 4-6 kg of leaves (it is laborious work- the leaves have to be plucked from
the base so they don’t tear) and comes back and sells them daily (at about 7:30- 8:00 p.m).
In a good day she earns 10000 LL and on a bad day hardly anything. If she manages to
put food for her family of 8 on the table and has some money left over she spends on her
children’s needs e.g. clothes, shoes. The labour is tough because she has to walk quite a
bit and has painful varicose veins. Also the vineyard owners don’t allow her to pick so she
has to pick on the sly and from the borders of the fields. She faces hostility daily from the
vineyard owners. On the days when she is too tired to venture to the vineyard she resorts
to food that is distributed in UNRWA’s food basket and by the Harriri Foundation or if
nothing else borrows from a neighbour. She cannot do this often since her neighbours are
also short of food. Having lived in a prefabricated house for the last 4 months and for 11
months in Beddawi before that, Azziza dreams of one day returning to her own home.
Both men and women reported feeling distanced from their spouses and not being
able to tend to their children.
Some women said that their husbands were helping them with small household chores
while they were in Beddawi but once they returned to NBC they reverted to giving
orders. That is their concept of masculinity or a ‘macho’man. Some men are more
patient with their wives but the burden of the housework is definitely on the wives
shoulders.
Domestic violence of both physical and verbal nature has been observed clearly in
schools and camps but no one speaks about it since it is considered a ‘private family
matter’. When people do discuss this it is justified with the explanation that men are
frustrated due to lack of jobs and physical violence is a natural result.
Many women and the midwife at UNRWA reported increased tensions between
husbands and wives due to cramped spaces and loss of masculinity. Many men have
divorced their wives. These divorced women now are living with their children
separately and have to earn for them. Men claim that since they do not have any
employment as of now, they do not have any money to pay maintenance. This has
made women more vulnerable. They have three options:
35
First, to Compromise and stay with the husband despite an unhappy marriage
Second, Leave the children with the husband and ask for visitation rights- men say
they can provide for children through donations
Third, Take the children and move away but not get any maintenance from husband
and have to provide for the family
Single women and divorced women do not get any support from NGOs whereas
widows with children less than 18 years get between LL 100000-200000 every other
month (Somoud- 30 000 LL /month, Rescue Committee- 40 000 LL/month and
Sanabil-150 000 LL every 2 months).
Health Issues pertaining to Women
According to the midwife at the UNRWA clinic, NBC there is an increasing incidence
of Candida (abnormal vaginal discharge). Living in cramped conditions with very
little privacy means that women find it difficult to apply vaginal washes, topical
medicines and thus tend to neglect such diseases.
Disregard of personal hygiene is also a common observation (some women are
combing their hair only once a week). An issue is that UNRWA can only reach out to
women who come to the clinic. It does not have the means to reach out to the women
in the larger community.
Before the war, women used to resist family planning methods. Now they don’t want
to raise children in this new environment and so are accepting family planning advice
and pills etc more readily. This is an opportunity to promote effective family planning
also for the future.
Summary
It is clear that the war has strained relationships between husbands and wives who are
finding it difficult to raise their families with adequate means. Psychosocial
counselling through trained counsellors or support groups in the community could be
a means to address this. During discussions married women said that given a choice
they would prefer that their husbands were the main breadwinners and they could tend
to their household and look after their children. They said this was also because men
can earn four times more than them. This has implications for the type of work
opportunities that will be offered by NGOs for women in future: the increase in
women’s workload load should not be too high and more importantly it should offer a
significant financial incentive for women to offset other problems. The issue of
domestic violence seems to be ignored by most organisations and ways to address the
same need to be explored.
Vulnerability among displaced NBC refugees clusters around 5 major indicators:
Health, Education, Household Characteristics (demographics), Income and Residence.
Any index that measures household vulnerability should take into consideration
measures of the five indicators in order to be able to capture all vulnerability
dimensions of the household.
36
4. TOWARDS MAKING A BETTER LIFE FOR NBC REFUGEES
“ If it not for UNRWA, Harriri and Al Somoud Foundations, I would have died”
Source a residence of NBC
The level of dependency of displaced NBC refugees on the assistance of UNRWA,
national and International NGOs and foundations is evident and translated in all
statistical frequencies about sources of income and coping strategies.
In all discussions people talked about the former glory of NBC and their pride in their
ability to lead a life of independence and comfort was evident. Today these people are
experiencing an extreme loss of dignity due to their impoverished circumstances and
their dependence on aid.
Some of these feelings are expressed in the following quotes:
‘Money can always be made, it is the moral issues that need to be addressed first!’
Khalid Abu Asaad, Beddawi
‘This is like a jail. We need permits now for all family members above 18. We are in
a huge prison and have no freedom. We want our home back.’
(Woman living in a prefabricated house)
‘The Lebanese govt is dealing with the camp from a security perspective. The army
treats the people as criminals until proven otherwise.’
‘What we have received from NGOs ..it is a pittance.. We feel demeaned. We don’t
mind what we are given as long as the process of decision making is transparent and
equal and we know why different people are being treated differently’.
‘We want to entertain visitors with coffee in china cups. To be given plastic plates and
mugs is against our culture and dignity’.
The Key Issues that have emerged from the Study are as follows
ƒ Limited/Lack of Cash incomes and ways to sustain the same
ƒ Exacerbation of people’s vulnerability due to lack of income
ƒ Lack of Information amongst people on different programmes/schemes and no
way to influence the same
ƒ Limited interaction and advocacy initiatives by the different political bodies,
government, NGOs, INGOs and other international institutions concerned with
rehabilitation of NBC
Therefore the following are the Recommendations to Improve Lives of Refugees
affected by the 2007 armed conflict
I)
Issue: Limited/Lack of Cash incomes and ways to sustain the same
Recommendations
ƒ The reconstruction of the Old camp will provide ample opportunities for
employment of unskilled labour. UNRWA and NGOs must play a proactive role
here in monitoring of labour works and wage rates to prevent exploitation of
unskilled, manual labourers. In addition necessary training can be provided to
equip refugees with the skills that match the construction phase.
37
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Employment opportunities for people who cannot engage in construction activities
will need to be explored e.g. disabled, women, elderly, young girls. The ILO
centre for employment will be a very good way to reach out to youth, provide
them with vocational training and jobs.
Popular Media should be utilised to sensitise the Lebanese community about the
plight of the refugees of NBC who remain a largely forgotten group for the rest of
Lebanon. Refugees who work outside the camp reported increased insecurity at
their work places due to a hostile environment.
Assist in the creation of new business opportunities inside NBC adjacent. For
this, a market survey is essential to analyse the key needs of people in the camp
and match with the number of services/businesses available to meet those need.
This can be done through meetings with NGO staff and traders and suppliers to try
and map what is in demand and what kind of enterprises should be promoted. (It
would be difficult for an organised market survey at this point to predict what will
be in future. With the Old Camp becoming more ‘formal’ and organised the tax
free environment and smuggling of goods might not be so easy.)
A database should be maintained and updated monthly of the different businesses
in the camp
For the services/ businesses that are most common a costing (of inputs) and profits
from the same should be done to determine profit levels and also whether or not
such businesses are suitable for women/youth etc.
Where a business is potentially increasing women’s workload option for giving
funding to a group of women who can share an enterprise (and the workload
entailed) can be explored
People’s debt conditions should be analysed and communicated to LPDC so that
they can explore options to relieve people of their debt
The purpose of a rent subsidy or food portion is to supplement people’s
livelihoods and not to act as a source of income, which is the current scenario.
Separate cash assistance (similar to the SHC allowance) should be given to the
most vulnerable families.
Distribution of food coupons (as also recommended in the study by the world
Food Programme) would also help towards revival of the economy and ensure
people get their preferred items of food.
II)
Issue: Exacerbation of people’s vulnerability due to lack of income
Lack of income is affecting people’s health and education status. The following are
the recommendations to address these:
Recommendations
ƒ Improve the efficiency and scope of health and education services provided
through networking with UNICEF to design programs that could better address
the needs of the local population. Demands for education and health are expected
to rise in the months to come, given that displaced NBC refugees have stretched
their coping strategies to the maximum, and they will be looking for UNRWA to
increasingly provide them with medical services specifically. Special scheme
should start up to ensure provision of medicine for the chronic diseases, in
particular the elderly, and UNRWA could engage in this scheme with ICRC,
UNICEF, Islamic Relief among others and build on Al Somoud model of
repayments.
38
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Deploy women ‘health educators’ to visit women in their homes (especially those
living in prefabricated houses and in overcrowded accommodation) to discuss
issues of personal hygiene and vaginal diseases.
Conduct Sector wise and Camp wise discussions on health issues to identify
differing health needs in the different sectors/camps so that health interventions
can be tailored accordingly.
Psychosocial counselling for men and women and children is much in demand.
Separate women counsellors whom women would feel confident to talk to and
confide in should visit women in homes.
UNICEF has funds and experience for psychosocial counselling. The issue should
be taken up in cluster meetings and counselling facilities should be established.
A system for feedback to UNRWA on its medical facilities for the hospital at
Akkar would help ensure proper treatment of patients.
Free transportation facilities (minibuses) to and fro NBC-Tripoli via Beddawi 3-4
times a day would help people access education, health services much better.
The forthcoming socio economic survey of NBC that will be conducted by UNDP
and ILO should go into in-depth analysis of the health situation, and in particular
the health problems of women, children and elderly.
III) Issue: Lack of Information amongst people on different programmes/schemes
and no way to influence the same
Recommendations
ƒ Information needs to be disseminated among people and agencies on the quantum
and type of funds available with different agencies along with the purpose,
disbursement plans, criteria for beneficiary selection etc. This can be through
Information Boards in public spaces, Pamphlets, newsletters, radio, via the
loudspeaker of the Mosque (currently used as a means of communication by the
Popular Committee), NGO meetings and Cluster meetings.
ƒ The roles and responsibility of UNRWA and the Municipalities for reconstruction
processes along with timelines for the same should be communicated to all NGOs,
INGOs and the community. Currently, people and even NGOs are unaware of the
different organisations that are in charge of reconstruction processes and as a
result look to UNRWA for everything. E.g. Infrastructure repair (roads,
electricity) of the NBC Adjacent area is the responsibility of the two
Municipalities but most people do not know this or else have no way to approach
the Mayors of the Municipality.
ƒ A Feedback system should be constituted via the local committees and the
popular committees to the Public Town Hall Meetings that have commenced in
the Camp. This should ensure feedback from the community about their issues and
concerns and the quality and quantity of aid being received. Political
representation of women in the local committees and Popular Committee needs to
be addressed.
ƒ The International and National NGO community should demand from UNRWA a
copy of their schemes and policies e.g. Rental Policy and these should be
communicated clearly to people so that they are aware of their rights.
ƒ People’s concerns over long-term issues such as check posts and reconstruction
of Old Camp need to be discussed and this process has already commenced
through the Public Town Hall Meetings. Presence of the Mayors of the different
Mayors of Municipalities who are in charge of NBC adjacent reconstruction at
39
these Meetings (organised for a two way dialogue every two weeks between the
community and representatives of LPDC, UNDP, ILO, UNRWA etc) is crucial.
IV)
Issue: Limited interaction and advocacy initiatives by the different
political bodies, government, NGOs, INGOs and other international
institutions concerned with rehabilitation of NBC
Recommendations
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
LPDC is exploring the concept of ‘community policing’ to ease the strain of the
check posts for the refugees. Brainstorming and ideas from the NGOs/INGOs will
contribute to the development of this concept.
A code of conduct for military personnel at check posts should be strictly ensured
to prevent humiliation of refugees especially women refugees
The INGOs/NGOs via cluster committees should bring in stories and issues
concerning people to keep alive the issues about relationships between the two
communities, impact of check posts on people’s lives etc which should in turn be
leveraged for wider advocacy with UNRWA and the Lebanese government
Dialogue with political parties and Mayors of Municipalities has been very
limited. The issues that constrain them to improve services and infrastructure of
the camp need to be understood and addressed. As an example LPDC negotiated
to procure extra funds from UNDP for the Mayor of Muhammara municipality
who was earlier refusing to install streetlights in New Camp since his budget was
only for the 1500 registered Lebanese families.
Inclusion of political parties like Fatah, which is involved in food distribution,
and National NGOs in the cluster meetings is essential (currently these are
dominated by the INGOs)
Synergies are needed between local committees, popular committee and NGOs,
which are currently lacking. NGOs should share plans with popular committee to
check for suitability for interventions and also feedback from them to check on
wider problems of the camp.
Information sharing between the different clusters through LPDC appointed
communications staff is essential to ensure a view of the big picture of the Camp
and move towards a development perspective. Currently the livelihoods cluster is
very project/individual programme oriented with Organisations generally giving
more information about their beneficiaries, selection criteria etc. While this is
important there is a need for the cluster to synergise and share more information
on people’s problems and priorities and ways to address these.
A medium and long-term development strategy for NBC needs to be developed
with a mapping of the contributions of different agencies to the same
40
ANNEXURES
Annexure 1
Livelihoods Interventions of Some NGOs
I) ILO plans to open an ‘Economic Recovery Support Centre’ concentrating on
meeting training needs of people who wish to start businesses.
ILO Emergency Employment Services Centre will be functional from August
onwards. It will cater to both Palestinian and Lebanese inside and outside the camp
areas in an attempt to rebuild relationships between the two communities. This will
look at registration of youth and mapping of existing skills and experience in informal
sectors and what kind of vocational training is needed and to provide that training as
well as link to job employment opportunities. So far most vocational centres in the
camp are not functional-they have poor attendance, no curricula and no job guarantee.
II) PAWL is giving grants to people to restart businesses or augment existing
businesses. It does localized market research on whether or not a particular business
that is requested is needed or not in the locality (street or surrounding area). They also
advise on the viability of a business and give training to people on basic
accounting/book keeping skills. The criteria for selection is
• Vulnerability of family
• Viability of business (even if this means giving a loan to slightly better of
family that will then employ more people and will also help revive the
market)
Support ranges upto USD 2500 and could be few hundred more or less.
III) Mercy Corps is planning to implement (starting in next few weeks) a nine –
twelve month ECHO funded cash for work project with 1375 persons (out of which
350 will be women). They aim to have 90% unskilled labour. The project will be
chosen by the local committees that will be formed as part of the programme. There
will be about 50 small projects running for period of about 1 month each. For women
the activities will be home based (trying to link women to factories, making bags,
cooking). For men outside activities will be chosen.
The programme has 2 objectives: give people cash in hand to choose to buy whatever
they need
Reconstruction of public spaces (cleaning road, schools) which will benefit the larger
community
IV) PU, ACTED and Norwegian Refugee Council and PARD are key actors who are
contributing to housing repair and reconstruction in adjacent areas. Together they plan
to build houses for about 700 families. Preference would be given to displaced
Palestinians living in Beddawi and Jabal Beddawi.
All houses in the adjacent area have been classified into Unsafe, Partially Safe and
Safe. The abovementioned NGOs are only working on repair of the ‘safe’ houses. It is
not clear if the ‘partially unsafe’ are safe to improve upon yet.
PU also plans to distribute ‘tool kits’ for restarting businesses to families. They will
share lists with PAWL and other NGOs to make sure that duplication of beneficiaries
does not happen.
PU intends to have large bulletin boards for sharing information on their programme
and selection criteria. Other INGOs and UNRWA should replicate this.
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Annexure 2
Vulnerability Indicators to be used in accessing household vulnerability level
Health Indicators
- Presence of chronic diseases
- Access to UNRWA services
Education Indicators
- More than 2 members of household enrolled in school
- 1 or more member of household enrolled in University
Household Indicators
- Household of more than 6 members
- Presence of elderly people within household
- Disabled head of household
- No relatives or extended family residing close by
- Presence of divorced/widowed women with no maintenance payments
- Presence of single non-working women
Income Indicators
- Presence of regular source of income
- Ownership of a house or business premises
- Presence of daily wage earner
- Ownership of a business
- Linkage with NGOS
Residence Indicators
- Totally destructed residence
- Rent not subsidized by UNRWA
The above mentioned indicators could be assigned weights and numerical values.
Accordingly, a “vulnerability index” could be developed by any humanitarian agency
to improve its targeting mechanism.
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Annexure 3
We would like to express our gratitude to 48 men and women who participated in
Focus Group discussions as well as the following Key Informants
List of Key Informants from Inside the NBC
Ahmed Guneim – Deputy Secretary General of Popular Committee
Hassan Lubani- Member of Popular Committee
Mona Khala – Midwife at UNRWA clinic
Hussein Abdo - Pharmacist in NBC adjacent
Saleh Abdul Rahim – Palestinian National Struggle for Liberation Front
Hussam loubani – Palestinian National Liberation Front in Northern Lebanon
Sajida Azzam – Women Palestinian League
Abu-Mohammad Fathi Rabih – General Coordinator of the Committee for
Popular Work for Studies and Planning to Reconstruct NBC
Dr. Mustafa Lubani – Red Crescent clinic
Dr. Toufic Assaad – Al-Shifaa clinic
Dr. Hussein Suleiman – Red Crescent
Representatives of UN organizations and International NGOs
Khaled Walid Al-Haj - UNRWA Camp Services Officer
Fadia Jradi - UNRWA
Ibrahim Abou Khalil – Mercy Corps
Alexander Geraud – Premiere Ugence
Gregor Sculcz- ILO
Joumana Nassar – LPDC
Dr. Imad Mattary – UNRWA clinic in NBC
END NOTES
i
For further information on the socio-economic indicators of Al-Barid Camp, and the consequences of 2007 war
on its residents, refer to the following documents:
Maya Assaf, Country of Lebanon Humanitarian and Emergency Qualitative Assessment,
Palestinian Crises Response. World Vision, August, 2007.
Adam Taylor Awny, Food Security Assessment, Nahr Al-Bared Camp, WFP, April 2008
Age Tiltness, A Socio-Economic Profile of the nahr El-Bared and beddawi Refugee Camps of
Lebanon, Based on the 2006 Labour Force Survey among Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon,
Fafo, 2007.
Fadia Jradi, A Draft report on Damaged / Destroyed Businesses Survey, UNRWA, January 2008.
UNRWA Emergency Appeal for Northern Lebanon, September 1st, 2007 – August 31st, 2008,
UNRWA 2007
Lebanese Republic, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Nahr Al-Bared and Surroundings,
Reconstruction and Recovery program, Technical notes, Nahr Al-Bared Crises Appeal, Post
Conflict Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction, September 10, 2007.
Lebanese Republic, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Relief and Early Recovery for the
Municipalities of Muhammara, Bebnine, Bhanine, Minieh, Beddawi and Deir Ammar, Crises
Appeal, Post Conflict Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction, September 10th, 2007.
- Lebanese Republic, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, A Common Challenge, A Shared
Responsibility, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Policy Report Presented to Vienna
Conference, June 23rd, 2008
ii
The Final Questionnaire is attached to this document
43