Refugee Families affected by COVID 19 Pandemic

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

Lebanon, which shares a border with Syria, has an estimated 1.1 million refugees, both Syrian refugees and about 450,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom were born in Lebanon and have been displaced. With a total population of only 4.4 million, the massive 25% increase means a strain on already deteriorating resources and space as well as an overall impact.

Walking into a refugee camp is like walking into a desperately overcrowded slum. The camps are only one kilometer long and accommodate between 25,000 and 37,000 people. Refugees struggle for even the most basic of needs. For electricity, families must string live wires to dozens of other wires, above the tiny walkways around the settlements. Every few weeks, someone gets electrocuted. Many houses are about to collapse, and most people needing care are not able to access hospital treatment. Those most seriously ill die.

Conditions in the camps are extremely challenging, with no clean water and high rates of violence against women and children. Inhabitants of the camps are in constant danger from exposed live electrical wires, a daily threat as the government refuses to supply electricity to the camps. Many refugees cannot get jobs. They are excluded from about 70 jobs including taxi drivers, according to Global Fund for Women grantee partners Tadamon and Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organization, leaving primarily menial labor like plumbing, cleaning, or construction available to them. 

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

-          We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

-          Naba’a provided cash assistance for 283 family distributed as 225 in Borj Hammoud and 58 in khandaa along with distributing disinfection / hygiene kits for 1050 families in Beirut and south. Where 150 families in Ein EL Helwi, El Buss, Burj Al shamali and Rachidie camps received hygiene kits in addition to 900 families in Beirut. As for food kits, 225 families in Mie and Mie area and Saida al Balad have provided with Food kits as well as 75 families in Ein El Helwe. Whereas, 306 families in Beirut have received food kits and distributed as 306 families in Khandaa in 900 in Borj Hammoud.

• 1120 parents and caregivers motivated to be engaged in their children learning and well-being.
• Around 2100 Youth and adolescents (70% females) involved in the life skills program including different topics such as (Communication skills, leader ship skills, how to protect themselves from abuse, reproductive health, peer to peer, human rights, child rights, women rights, etc…).
• Nabaa’ provided inclusive education for 3210 boys and girls of school age (6-12 years) in the Palestinian camps and Syrian gatherings in Lebanon (Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Nabatieh) “In line with UNRWA's educational reform and MEHE curriculum to support the education of refugees children from Syria, Palestinians or Syrians.
• 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.

Code: S-H-f 001

Date of Birth: 1981 years

Nationality: Lebanese

Family members: two wives and 4 children

Address: saida- Masalkhieh

Phone number: 70440701

Background:

The man is married to H-K who was born in 1982 and has multiple sclerosis and a virus in her brain which makes her unable to move or fulfill her responsibilities towards her three children of ages (13-14-17). Indeed, she is in need of continuous therapy which urged her husband to marry another woman, S-B, who is born in 1992. The main reason behind his second marriage is having someone at home who can assist his sick wife and take care of his children. His second wife now has a daughter aged two months.  

The family lives in a house of 3 rooms which has a high humidity and cracks in its ceiling and walls similar to all other houses in Saida old Town.

Economic Situation:

The financial condition of the family is dire especially that the sick wife’s therapy is expensive reaching one million and a half beside the costs of the children’s necessities, including diapers, milk and school fees. Consequently, the father works more than 12 hrs. in a mini café in his neighborhood and receives 100,000 L.L as a daily wage which does not cover all his needs, which urges his three sons to work at neighboring markets after they finish school. To clarify, the three children feel responsible for keeping a roof over the family’s head and securing the medications of their mother, especially that the family does not receive neither medical nor financial aids from the Lebanese ministry of health and NGOs.  

Health condition:

First wife: suffers from multiple sclerosis and has a virus in her brain which makes her incapable of moving and exerting effort. She lives on medications, including Fambrya 382,000 L.L, Tecfidera and others of value 1,500,000 L.L .

Second wife: has a daughter of age two months who has to be breastfed. To emphasize, this makes the mother in need of good nutrition and vitamins.

Husband: has a spinal disc which makes him incapable of exerting effort.

Social condition

The family has a strong bond, yet there is undoubtedly sensitivity and jealousy between the two wives as the sick wife feels helpless despite the fact that she tries to stay strong for her three children.

Issues that the Family Struggle with: dire financial condition – sickness- child labor.

Data collection: achieved through paying home visits to the family and meeting the husband and his wives.

Intervention: Providing the family with 3 food kits for 3 months

Recommendations:

• Providing financial support for the family
• Providing learning support for children
• Providing psychological support for the wives and the 3 children
• Integrating children in PSS activities
• Implementing individual psychological and awareness sessions for the sick wife inside her home

Links:

• Naba'a Website

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

Before the Beirut explosion, the following Nabaa’s Assessment showed 75% of the Lebanese were in need of assistance, 33% of the population became unemployed, and more then one million people were living below the poverty line. These numbers were likely to rise especially after Beirut explosion. In Addition Covid-19’s pandemic distracted the whole economic and social system. The Ministry of Health recorded more than 31,9917 cases and 3,616 deaths as of February 8, 2021.

Resulted from the previous assessment conducted by Nabaa directly after Beirut explosion, Lebanon needs a reliable crisis management strategy, people must be encouraged to take care of their physical and mental health, and new initiatives are necessary on several levels.

Nabaa started its intervention directly after the explosion where the resulted psychological symptoms were well managed through several appropriate services. Because the traumatic event triggers the symptoms and there is a chance that the symptoms will "turn on" again in the future, Nabaa’s intervention was extended for another short period of time.

After two months of intervention, followed by the previous intervention period, with children and parents in the Burj Hammoud area, Psychosocial Support activities (such as discharge activities and psychological follow up) led to positive outcomes in decrease of PTSD level among children (75%to 45%). Nabaa’s psychologists, social workers, parents and children evaluated the decrease of PTSD level.

If the trauma was left untreated, one may have experienced constant nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, depression, phobias, drug abuse, panic attacks, anger, irritability, or hopelessness. The individual may also begin to have physical symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, fast heartbeat, or extreme fatigue.

Corona virus outbreak was the biggest challenge Nabaa faced due to the strict safety guidelines that were taken and followed while conducting home visits and following up with beneficiaries, as well in implementing activities with groups and municipalities to protect our employees and beneficiaries. Therefore, the sessions were provided remotely, especially after the general lock down.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

-          During this year, During, the child rights program complementarily worked to (a) raise awareness and advocate against child labor, (b) build the capacity of drop-out youth as a mitigation measure to prevent their engagement in political factions, and (c) provide a safe space for marginalized children to express themselves.

-          The first project focused on the distribution of food and the provision of cash assistance packages to 430 households over the period of three months. Priority was given to female-headed households and the unemployed.

-          A rehabilitation of 200 shelters with simple damages have been implemented in Borj Hammoud area where the total number of beneficiaries estimated as 751 individuals with regard to rehabilitation. Noteworthy that, Nabaa’ participated in the rapid assessment for 1400 shelters. In addition to the Internal referral for 20 cases from Nabaa team who are working in Borj Hammoud area about other issues as gender Based violence, psychosocial, interventions, cash assistance, livelihood sector, education sector. 392 out of 751 are children, whereas 169 are youth and 190 are elderly taking into consideration 5 people with disability. Adding to this, 570 are Lebanese and 181 are foreigners.

-          The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Child Protection (CP), Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and intervention services in the Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon targeted beneficiaries located in Ein El-Helweh and Burj El-Shemali camps, engaging them in multiple activities designed to build skills, strengthen resilience, support the cognitive, social, and motor skills of children and youth (mostly females), and improve parenting skills, among others. As a result, girls, women, and children were empowered, acquired new knowledge, and enhanced their skills

Case Study;

The symbol is D. A

Date of birth: 2008

Gender: Female

Nationality: Syrian

- Number of family members: 7 (two girls and three boys)

D.A is a 14-year-old Palestinian refugee who has witnessed many traumatizing events through her childhood. As a beginning, D.A has been suffering from diabetes since she was young which is very tiresome for a girl of her age as it controls her whole life including food and activities. Indeed, D.A teachers have discovered the learning disabilities she has when she participated in NABAA’s educational program as she has concentration problems that limit her interactions and progression which is the main reason behind dropping out of school. To make things worse, D.A was subjected to sexual harassment by one of her relatives which scared her psyche and generated inner psychological issues. Accordingly, D.A, at the age of 14, had to deal with diabetes, psychological issues, and learning disabilities. 

 NABAA’s intervention started once her teachers discovered all these problems. In this sense, D.A case was referred to NABAA’s psychologist who kept an eye on her psychological and mental health through individual and awareness sessions given to her and her parents. On the educational level, D,A teachers followed up her development and used special educational techniques in an attempt to boost her skills. D.A was ambitious and never hesitated to do her homework or to interact with her teachers; she gradually started showing some educational progression.

As a result, D,A was transferred into vocational training and was happy to start a new career which is hairdressing. In few months, D.A will be holding her certificate and able to start working in the field of hairdressing as NABAA’s program she is participating in will provide her with hairdressing tools after her graduation. In brief, D,A is trying to start a new chapter in her life, to forget the painful memory she has, and to overcome her physical illness by dedicating her life to what she loves and is good at communication.

Links:

• Naba'a Website