Protect 120 Refugee Children and women from Syria

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

The recent deterioration of the socio-economic and political situation in Lebanon indicates that implications and other effects are much more difficult among the refugees community in Lebanon. And It has become obvious that the political, economic and financial crisis that Lebanon is experiencing, has cast a shadow over all residents of Lebanon in general and especially on Palestinian refugees who are already suffering from hazardous and difficult situations. For the purpose of observing the details of how the Palestinians are suffering in the Palestinian Camps, Naba’a team monitored some of the indicators that indicates the worsening of the living crisis, as follows:

The Common observations and indicators in all camps:

-          The unavailability of some types of goods from the mini-market shops as a result of high prices, especially milk and imported materials.

-          Sales decreased by 80% on minor materials and 50% on basic materials.

-          More than 50% of parents aren’t capable of giving their children money when they have to go to school.

-          The number of people below the poverty line has increased to 80% according to preliminary estimates.

-          Decrease in the percentage of purchasing meat and chicken up to 70%, where sellers indicated to reduce the purchase of basic goods by this percentage.

-          Increase in the prices of basic materials such as rice, sugar, oil, etc. by 40% and some of them up to 50%.

-          Most homeowners and shops who rent their homes are requesting the rent amount to be in US dollars or Lebanese pounds at an exchange rate of 2,000 Lebanese pounds for every US $ 1.

-          People started to buy food that is expired or close to completion due to their inability to buy usable items

-          Traders are requesting from the owners of shops in the camp to pay their debts in US dollars.

Ein El Helwi:

-          95% of the youth from Ein El Helwi “down street " are unemployed, where most tends to organizations in order to gain their livelihoods or to be provided with job opportunities.

-          Nearly 15 shops were closed in Ein el-Hilweh camp.

-          A large number of shops are going to be completely closed in Ein El Helwi " Al Tahtani Street “and “vegetable market street”, because of the inability to buy goods and pay rent shops.

-          Almost ten people near to Khalid Bin Al Walled Mosque in the Gemayzeh neighborhood have not been paid their monthly salary for 3 months.

-          Two divorce cases were registered in Ein El Helwi due to the inability of the family to be financially sufficient and the inability to provide the necessary needs.

-          More than 40 Palestinian employees, who are working at Hassanein and Hijazi companies, earn half salary and work 15 days a month since the beginning of the crisis.

-          More than 20 people, who are working in the fun world, have been paid half a salary since the previous three months.

-          48 workers from inside the camp were fired from the waste plant and the rest receive their salaries in several payments.

-          A number of camp residents expected that if this crisis continues, its impact will go beyond another context such as cases of theft, crimes, etc.

Finally, the future of Syria and its people remains unknown. More than four million Syrians have fled the war to become refugees in the neighboring countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The majority of the refugees reside in neighboring countries within the region. Before the war, an estimated 20 percent of Syrian young people were enrolled in tertiary education (EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, 2016), but as the war continues, Syrian refugee youth face barriers accessing tertiary education in the countries in which they seek refuge.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, Naba’a aimed to improve the situation of the women and girls living in the most marginalized and impoverished communities. Through different interventions Naba’a also works on gathering both (Palestinian refugees women who are already living inside the camps and those who fled from Syria) to raise together their common problems and sufferings, monitoring the violations of their rights in the local community and to reduce the conflict among themselves. By taking a grassroots approach we aimed to help women to become effective actors for social change; giving them the knowledge, skills and confidence to drive social change in their own communities. Therefore, Naba’a intervention is based on two mainstreams;

• In Ein El Helwe, both children and women have been targeted in psychosocial activities as the following, 3051 children (males and females)and 550 parents most of them are women, including, vulnerable Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Whereas, in Borj Al Shamali camp 555 children (males and females and 220 parents including (Lebanese, Syrian Refugees and Palestinian refugees).
• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

o   Women and girls access reproductive health services; Nabaa’ targeted 9689 beneficiaries 820 male and 8869 provided two non-consecutive days/ week – clinics in Ein el Helweh and Rashidieh which targeted 1230 female (45 from the age group of 11-18 and 1100 from the age group 19-35 and 85 from the age group of 36-50+) note that, the clinics are managed by a women gynaecologist and a female nurse and the clinic operates one day in the afternoon.

• Regarding based health awareness, 6 session’s cycles on adolescent health topics have been targeted 2555 adolescent girls from the age group of 11-18 in schools and vocational training centers. Whereas, awareness and counselling sessions have targeted 1500 boys from the age group of 11-18 in schools and vocational training centers by the male health educators.
• Moreover, monthly reproductive and psychosocial health outreach sessions targeted both men and women and it was conducted by the project’s health professionals, peer to peer team and community mothers and have been participated by 2337 female (60 from the age group of 11-18 and 1497 from the age group of 19-35 and 780 from the age group of 36-50) and by 200 men (10 from the age group of 11-18 and 116 from the age group of 19-35 and 74 from the age group of 36-50+).
• Finally, two campaigns about breast cancer and cervical cancer have been implemented and targeted 620 males and female (180 from the age group 19-35 and 440 from the age group 36-50+). Knowing that three cases whom are suffering from cancer were discovered during breast and cervical cancer campaigns and they have been referred to specialist. In addition, to that, a large number of men whom are unexpected have been targeted in awareness sessions and the number of women and girls that have been benefited exceeds the actual plan.

Case Study

• Name: AHH
• DOB: 7/15/2000
• Residency: Bebneen / Behind Mustafa Mosque
• Nationality: Lebanese
• Family Size: 9    

1. Highlight the reason for gathering this case study

ü  Violence in school

ü  engaged at 14 years’ old

ü  Dropout from school

ü  Married

What happened?

Since the beginning of the project, by drawing attention to the project's aim and through meetings with girls that we were targeted, she told us that she was engaged, but she liked the idea of the project and asked to participate in it. And one of the objectives of the project is to work with girls who are vulnerable to early marriage.

When did it happen (most recent incident if happened more than once)?

After building a good relationship and a trust between the social worker and the girls, the girl told her story to the social worker.

Because of the social norms and traditions of the area that do not allow the girl to get out of the house and mingle during her adolescence, and because of the absence of parents' interest in the feelings of the girl and lack of consciousness of her and guide her to what is best for her in the future, all that encouraged the girl to establish an emotional relationship with one of the young relatives. When parents knew about this relationship for fear of its consequences and from the words of people in society and based on the social norms and traditions, the parents agreed on the girl engagement, and it was as a joy on this step. And she decides her wedding date when she is 17 years’ old

When the engagement took place, she was encouraged to leave school because she was subjected to violence, which affected her degrees in the school, where She was retreating, especially After she failed in the grade 7. she dropped out of school and found no one to encouraged her to continues her education.

How has it affected the young person?

Engagement affected the study of the girl in conjunction to subjected to school violence and the lack of parents' interests, which encouraged her to drop out of school from the grade 7. And decided to marry when she becomes 17 years old.

Was there any Follow up, and what was the outcome?

After the participation of the girl in the project's activities, after participating in the training (protection - life skills - the risks of early marriage - the importance of education) and through integration into society through the implementation of awareness sessions for her peers and participation in advocacy campaigns that encourage girls to education, which encouraged her To participate in quick professional courses, and the participation of her parents in awareness sessions for parents, which affected the thinking of parents and girls and delay the age of marriage until after 18. the wedding was held at the age of 19 years in agreement with her future husband successfully and joyfully. Even after marriage, she still participates in the project's activities.

 Other comments or details

We Encouraged her to return to school and complete her educational career. And raise her awareness about family planning.

Links:

• Naba'a website

Background during the implementation of the project: Three years on, and the Syrian crises continue to get more complicated and vague.  Big concerns arise about the needs of the refugees coming from Syria and the hosted communities who started to suffer from different social, economical and psychological problems. How to meet these needs and for how long. In Lebanon, and by end of 2014, around 1,144,706 Syrian refugees and 45,116 displaced Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) are located. The situation is particularly complicated due to cutback in funds directed towards the Syrian crises, and according to the world bank assessment “By 2014, it is estimated that the Syrian conflict will double the unemployment rate in Lebanon to above 20%, push approximately 170,000 Lebanese into poverty and demand an additional USD $5.1 billion to stabilize access to, and quality of, public services to their pre-Syrian conflict level”.

The main recommendation is to create an intervention that is fit to respond to the needs arising based on the Syrian crises in relation to the physical, human and psycho-social needs of the refugees both the displaced and the host communities.

Recommendations put weight on satisfying the refugees’ basic food and non-food items, hygiene kits, adequate and safe shelter and mobility needs. In addition to helping them to meet their health and education needs.  Finally the refugees’ participation in the social life and economic growth of their families and communities is extremely needed to enhance their self-worth.

Process of the project implementation;  During this period Naba’a worked in addition to providing Non food items, basic needs, hygiene kits and clothing kits for both (displaced and hosted communities), it is also worked on addressing the main needs of the PRS and SRS families through conducting needs assessment. The main findings show that unemployed youth and adults, female heads of households, families lack of their basic needs due to the lack of funding from different INGOs and UN agencies,  children under 18years old with school enrollment challenges, children lack the protection, particularly females, and families with disabilities or at least one chronically ill member are the most vulnerable groups.

Summary of the main achievements; The project is targeting 130 Palestinian refugees families who are displaced from Syria to Ein El Helweh Palestinian refugee camp and un official gatherings, who are the most marginalized groups among refugees by providing them with the Hygiene kits.

Case Study; KY

Date of birth: 2009

Sex: Male

Nationality: Palestinian

Number of family members:  5 in total: 2Males&3females (including parents)

Child’s sequence within the family: The second child.

School: Nabaa- KG2

Excerpts from the child’s life:

K.Y lives with his parents and 2 siblings at his grandmother’s one room house. The house is untidy and its door is always open since the grandmother sells candies at her house and customers are coming and going. This atmosphere is problematic for the children and it adds to the economic burden on the parents as the kids eat from the candies nonstop. The mother pays the grandmother the cost of the candies eaten by her kids. While K.Y spends his time playing alone with the car matchboxes, he bosses around his sisters because he is the boy. The mother elaborates that he son speaks and acts as if he is the only man in the house. K.Y utters words that are not appropriate for his age and hits his sisters if they don’t follow his orders. The mother hits him in return and if he does not listen to his mother the grandmother hits him in a vicious way without taking into consideration the consequences. The father makes sure to please K.Y and prevents the mother from hitting K.Y. The father is usually outside of the house working and only comes back at night where he fights with his wife a lot in front of the entire family. The mother sometimes leaves the house and goes to her parents’ house which she did for the past year and a half and she only recently returned to the house.

Economic situation of the family: The family’s economic situation is very bad; he works as a taxi driver and he has suffered from car accidents for a couple of time. He always has to fix something in his car; thus he asks for small loans from his friends to support his family’s needs. The house belongs to the grandmother; it is untidy and lacks adequate furniture.

Social status:K.Y loves his father and spends most of his time with him and he imitates his actions and talks. The father does not hit K.Y; their relationship is harmonious. With regards to the mother, K.Y’s relationship with her is not good because she beats him when he acts in a bad way and he does not listen to her advice. K.Y takes his father as a role model when it comes to dealing with his sisters; he orders them around, it them and does not like to play with them especially his youngest sister.

Problem:

Collection of information:

The information about K.Y is collected by the social worker and the teacher at the kindergarten through home visits, observations and interviews with his family.

The problem that K.Y is facing:

During the activities, K.Y shows commitment and he is calm yet whenever he hears loud voice his facial features change and he starts shivering. However, in the house, both mother and grandmother complain of his restlessness and bad behavior. During the observations, when K.Y’s grandmother wants to discipline him she hits him so hard that he runs away from the house to the streets.

Factors that led and exacerbated the situation:

The living conditions to which K.Y is subjected to is very terrible. The mother and grandmother’s belief that discipline is only achieved by hitting K.Y makes things worse. K.Y’s relationship with his mother is not healthy/ normal; he lacks any attachment to her despite that he needs her the most in this age.

Intervention:

Involvement Steps:

K.Y has been involved in goal oriented group activities with his sisters. His mother and grandmother are invited to awareness sessions and workshops (guidance).

 Progress:

K.Y started to play with his sisters inside the house. The rate of him beating them has decreased. The mother’s relationship with K.Y is improving and they are getting closer.

 Recommendations:

It is recommended to continue with the goal oriented group activities with K.Y and to invite the mother and grandmother to awareness workshops, in addition to home visits and provide them with the basic needs of their living, hygiene kits, winterization and clothing kits.