Lost cause or redeemable opportunity?

by Carlos Naffah July 4, 2024

written by Carlos Naffah July 4, 2024

Raghed, 7, stands among rubbish at an informal refugee settlement in Qab Elias in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. This camp is home to families who fled to Lebanon hundreds of kilometers from their home in Hassakah near to Syria's northern border. Many told CRS their homes had bee after their home was destroyed in an airstrike. Fighting between Kurdish groups and Turkish troops prevented a safe passage to nearby Turkey. There is no electricity at the camp and water has to be drawn by hand from a well. Families here have received critical food, shelter support and living supplies from Catholic Relief Services and our partner, Caritas Lebanon. CRS, Caritas and other local partners are helping more than 15,000 refugees across the country, and more than 100,000 Syrians across the region. An estimated 100,000 people have been killed within Syria, with millions uprooted inside the country and at least 1.2 million people having fled into neighboring countries to seek help. Picture taken on 18 July, 2013.

Lebanon has been profoundly impacted by the influx of Syrian refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. With about 2 million Syrian refugees according to government estimates, Lebanon is home to one of the largest refugee populations globally. This massive influx has strained Lebanon’s already fragile economy and infrastructure, creating significant challenges in integrating these refugees into the country’s economic fabric. However, it’s crucial to recognize that Syrian refugees also present potential economic opportunities, particularly through their labor, which, if harnessed effectively, could contribute significantly to the Lebanese economy. The sudden and substantial increase in population, mostly since 2013, has placed an enormous strain on Lebanon’s public services and infrastructure with the healthcare and education systems bearing the brunt of this pressure. The surge in students between the ages of 6 and 15 has, from 2014 until now, led to overcrowded classrooms, schools operating on double

Carlos Naffah

Dr. Carlos Naffah is a University professor and consultant with expertise in refugee crisis management and public policy. He has been a member of the regional committee for the Arab Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) and represented the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Senior Expert Service (SES) gGmbH.

Lost cause or redeemable opportunity?

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