Introduction to Lebanon

The second smallest country in the Middle East has beautiful ancient sites including Baalbek, Byblos and Tyre - showcasing the rich remnants of ancient Roman and French civilizations. Now with a population of 6.8 million, Lebanon houses a 59.5% majority Muslim population.

Lebanon also hosts the highest per capita concentration of refugees from Syria with 1.5 million Syrian refugees in the country as well as 479,000 Palestinian refugees. As a result, tensions between host and refugee communities are frequent as the high number of refugees puts pressure on the already strained Lebanese economy.

Formal refugee camps are banned for Syrians, leaving many to live in construction sites and makeshift homes, exposing them to extreme weather conditions. Food and rent prices have increased, competition for jobs has grown, and there is enormous pressure on the health and education systems, furthering tensions.

The aftermath of the Beirut blast is still being felt with more than 62,000 homes destroyed and over 300,000 people left homeless. Additionally, the Lebanese economy continues to plummet to new lows with the Lebanese lira having lost around 90% of its value.

This has resulted in high inflation rates, a shortage of basic necessities, lower wages, and rising unemployment rates. Currently, more than 80% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty and a quarter are living in extreme poverty.