April 13, 2023
Doctors of the World warns of the humanitarian needs of thousands of migrants abandoned in the desert in Assamaka (Niger)
Today, there are over 360,000 Syrians residing in the Bekaa refugee camp in northern Lebanon – 8 kilometers from the Syrian border. Doctors of the World has been active in Lebanon since 1990, so we immediately began responding to the needs of Syrian refugees.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon often do not have a valid residency permit and limited access to finances, making it difficult for them to find jobs and to access healthcare. In 2017, about 70% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon did not have a valid residency.
We are now focused on providing Syrian refugees with access to healthcare and strengthening the Lebanese healthcare system to help the sector cope with the ongoing crisis.
Our mental health specialists provide therapeutic consultations and follow up meetings at our centers, with serious cases being referred to additional services. We also work with a team of community health workers who are able to identify members of the community who need help and can carry out referrals.
We will continue to improve primary healthcare provision and increase psychosocial support for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese at health centers across the country.