The Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon: state fragility and social resilience

Owing to its geographic proximity, the overlap in language and historical relations with itsneighbour, Lebanon is one of the most obvious destinations for Syrians trying to escapethe civil war, and around 1.2 million have registered there with the UNHCR.

This report provides an account of the situation in five sections. Firstly, it offers an account of the unfolding of the crisis from the perspective of Lebanese political institutions. Secondly, it maps political reactions to the crisis, focussing on the main actors involved. Thirdly, it analyses the status of Syrians displaced in Lebanon – displacement being one of the main sources of vulnerability. Fourthly, it highlights the role played by local administrations and international organisations in managing the crisis. And finally, it illustrates how Syrian-Lebanese migrations have a consolidated history based on mutual economic interests, and social and cultural ties.

Based on these considerations, the report then proposes a set of possible courses of action to be undertaken by various stakeholders.