Page 23 - MY Book - My Voice

These gatherings are neither administered by UNRWA nor recognized by the Lebanese state. UNRWA does not provide water, electricity, waste management or infrastructural services in the gatherings, and the Lebanese state and its municipalities do not recognize the gatherings as Palestinian camps, and therefore don’t recognize the residents as part of their population.Jall al BaherJall al Baher is one of the gatherings in the South. The houses are built along the north entrance to Tyre, on a narrow strip of land between the sea and the coastal road. The gathering has about 2500 residents (http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/6220). The houses, which are mostly in bad conditions, are small one-story buildings. They are not allowed to expand the houses, neither horizontally nor vertically. The rate of unemployment, chronic illness, handicapped children, school dropouts and illiteracy and poverty is high.Syrian refugeesSince the con ict in Syria started in 2011 more than 1 1⁄2 million Syrians and Palestinians from Syria have ed the war and settled in Lebanon. Some have rented a house and started businesses, but the vast majority lives under di cult conditions and struggle to survive. The resources in Lebanon were already scarce, and the large number of refugees puts a lot of pressure on the entire country, both the Lebanese community and the now overcrowded Palestinian camps.PartnersAccording to UN, child labor, illiteracy, early marriage and poverty is increasing in Lebanon, in contrast to the development worldwide. The Lebanese state is weak and pushed from all sides in the international political landscape. The 1 1⁄2 million Syrian refugees in the country put an enormous pressure on this small country.Many NGOs are working hard and doing a great job with small means to provide support to the many people in need. Two of Forum’s partners in this project are working with both refugees from Syria and the local population, as well as with the Palestinians.Beit Atfal AssomoudBeit Atfal Assomoud (The National Institution of Social Care and Vocational training, NISCVT/BAS) is providing services for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and other disadvantaged people with other nationalities living in the camps or close to them. BAS has centers in 10 camps in Lebanon. “The programs focus on education, social development, health and relief. Within these three elds of work, it maintains multipurpose centers, kindergartens, dental clinics, and psycho-social counseling centers” (BAS’ website).21