COVID-19 Lebanon Project #48459

Syrian Refugee -Beirut explosion and COVID 19

by Developmental Action without Borders/Naba'a

Project Report | Apr 9, 2021
Responding to Syrian refugee needs in Beirut blast

By Hiba Hamzi | Program Coordinator

Distributing Gifts and Toys

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;

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 175 family distributed as 75 in Borj Hammoud and 100 in khandaa along with distributing disinfection / hygiene kits for 300 families in Beirut and south.
Our humanitarian response to the tragic blast focuses on the most vulnerable in the community and on different major areas: shelter with emergency housing repairs and protection with mental health and psychosocial support.
A rehabilitation of 265 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 division of the groups of children's sessions were according to age (6-14):

-Art therapy sessions for children aged 6 to 10 years

- Psychosocial support "sessions for children "She deals or “I deal with awareness sessions for girls and boys from 11 to 14 years old

- Psychosocial support sessions for all age groups

100 children were targeted, divided into groups according to social and psychological needs. The psychologist referred 30 new children for individual follow-up.

Case Study;

The symbol is MA

Date of birth: 1982

Gender: Female

Nationality: Syrian

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

About her life :

The woman lives with her family of 7, two girls and three boys, and her husband in a small rented home. They used to live in Syria but after the war, they left Syria and flee to Lebanon. However, they did not find a decent life where some were bullying them, which made her feel stressed and tense. After they moved from one area to another, they finally settled in Burj Hammoud area, they remained in the area for months before the explosion broke out, as they were financially and psychologically affected. One of her children (10 years) didn’t face any psychological issues until the explosion occurred. After the explosion, he started having hearing problems, fearing everything, and urinary incontinence. This had a negative impact on the mother that led her to cry all day long.

They left the old house due to the destruction took place after Beirut’s blast and moved to a small house. The mother suffers from psychological problems, such as insomnia and eating disorders. Their psychological condition is not stable.

Economic situation:

The economic situation is execrable. They can’t afford purchasing the most basic needs for the children, including food, water, and house rent. Their situation is appalling, especially after Port of Beirut explosion. They also do not have any furniture in the house. They sleep on old mattresses on the floor, they do not have an electricity or internet connection because they cannot pay for these supplies, and the power only comes for two hours. So, during the daylight, the family members use a candle instead of power.

Health status:

The case lived under pressure due to the traumas that she had experienced. She also has two children who are suffering from urinary incontinence. This leads to an even worse economic situation. As she can’t meet the health needs of diapers or medicine.

Social status:

Social status is fine in the family. There are no problems between the mother and her spouse, or even with the neighbors. On the contrary, the neighbors like and defend them, especially when the landlord threatens to evict them. The neighbors didn’t allow such incident to happen, and talked to the owner to give them some time to pay rent.

The issues she suffers from:

Economic problems: expelling the family from the house - their inability to meet the needs of the house, such as food, drink, clothing, or even medicine.

Psychological problems, the most important of which are: insomnia, eating disorders, sadness, anxiety, fear, self-blame.

Intervention:

• Home visits to consolidate the relationship

• Transfer to cash assistance to pay the rent and was assisted with amount of $ 150

• Giving the family food assistance (food parcels – hygiene kits)

• Individual psychological support activities to alleviate the stress

• Psychological support activities to be shared with local community

- Transfer the case to a psychologist in order to release stress

Recommendations:

- Follow up on psychological support sessions and awareness sessions

- Follow-up on psychosocial support activities

- Follow up with a psychologist

- Follow up on her children psychologically

- Home visit

- Transfer children to psychological support activities

Distributing Gifts and Toys

Awareness Raising

Families identification

Distributing food parcels

Links:

Naba'a website

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Dec 10, 2020
Syrian Refugees after Beirut Blast

By Hiba Hamzi | Program Coordinator

Health Awareness Session

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

Tuesday evening, the capital Beirut was shaken byhuge explosion at the seaport, which completely destroyed the port and damaged nearly 75,000 houses adjacent to the port. The port and surrounding neighborhoods are now a wasteland of devastated buildings and crushed vehicles. With smoke still rising at the blast site, rescue workers are digging through the rubble in search of victims trapped underneath. Health officials said the blast killed 220 people and wounded about 6,500 and Hundreds of people have been left homeless.

The explosion occurred as Lebanon faces multiple crises, including an ongoing financial crisis (which had already increased the country’s poverty rate) and the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which have been further exacerbated by the blast. According to a study on poverty released on August 19 by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), more than 55 percent of the country’s population is now trapped in poverty and struggling to secure basic necessities. Extreme poverty has increased, from 8% in 2019 to 23% in 2020. The poverty rate and vulnerability rates are expected to increase even more in the coming year, due to rising inflation and the impact of the explosions on incomes, food availability and prices.

Additionally, COVID-19 cases have doubled since the explosions. The country recorded its highest number of new daily infections on Friday, with 628 new cases and three deaths. Though many cases may be asymptomatic, there has been an increase in hospitalizations. In an effort to curb the spread, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities approved a two-week lockdown that began on August 21. The shutdown allows relief and aid work in response to the explosion to continue, and the airport will remain open.

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

On the 5th of August 2020, Nabaa has developed an Urgent Appeal Aiming to encourage and support the most families whom are effected by Beirut explosion including Syrian refugees. Thanks to our partners GlobalGiving whom respond Rapidly to support the refugees families whom lost their jobs and can’t afford their daily basic needs.

The selected families targeted through this intervention, were chosen according to the recommendation of Municipalities, coordination with Local organization in the targeted area and through Naba’a community workers who conducted the participatory assessment. The criteria of selection families were as follows;

- Big families with more than five members less than 18 years old.

- Families who have infants lest than one year

- Families whom their houses are effected by the explosion

- Families who has elderly people

Food parcels were distributed to 350 Syrian Refugee e families affected in Khandaq Al Ghamik, Burj Hamoud, Nabaa and Karantina city.

The list of beneficiaries prepared by the team in coordination with the working group sectors and the municipalities aiming to avoid any duplication. The team communicated beneficiaries to receive the kit at allocated date and time.

Finally, the safety measures with regards to COVID 19 are taken into consideration during the distribution of the items.

In addition, different activities were held in the targeted areas, are as the followings;

- Psychosocial Support for 220 children who are suffering from psychological problems.

- Raising awareness sessions with parents hon how to communicate with their children in difficult circumstances.

Case study;

A profile on family’s life:

The wife lives with her husband and her three daughters, 9-7-5 years old, living on rent in a house consisted of two rooms only, the wife has many social, economic and psychological problems, due to low life standards and terrible economic situation. Also, the husband doesn't have a decent job because he suffers from cardiovesccular disease, which adversely affects the economic situation because the family depends on NGO’s asssiatnce; also the wife used to work for homes like cleaning, but after coronavirus outbreak, she was laid off from work, led to increasing anixety and overthinking about her family, especially her children. She is worried about her kids because the house is not safe and it's risky to live in, but she can't move out due to the low rent which is 250,000 L.L per month (approximate 50$ per month). So, she can afford it.

The family suffers from health and psychological disorders due to the economic downturn.

- Economic situation:

Under priviliged– Both parents don’t work, as we have mentioned earlier, they live on rent and don’t own a house, with no furntiure, no heating system, not even sheet covers due to difficult devastating financial instability. They recieve assistance, but not frequently.

- Health status:

Mother: No health issues.

Kids have trouble breathing and asthma.

- The problems that the family has:

Terrible economic situation. They can't afford life expenses such as: children's food, clothes, and sometimes there's no food to feed their children. It's negatively affecting family’s mental health.

- Sleeping disroders

- Nutrition diffculties

- Fear for children

- Anxiety and panic

- Data collection:

Collected information from mother during the individual sessions and home visits.

- Intervention:

• Transferred the family into the food aid section, where we provided her with food parcels for family's needs.

• Provided material assistance to meet family needs, especially children.

• Psychosocial support by integrating children in psychosocial support activities.

• Transferred mother’s case to a psychologist for a follow-up to alleviate anxiety, tension and to think positively

• Integrate mother into psychological support activities and awareness about how to cope with pressure and positive parenting

Recommendations:

• Follow-up through home visits.

• Follow up with the family by a social worker

• Psychologist should follow up with mother

Distributing food kits

Protecting Syrian Children in Beirut

Distributing the food parcels

Links:

Naba'a website

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