Lebanon: Syrian refugees trapped in fear and facing unbearable choices

The Syrian war, which began in 2011, led to widespread destruction and violence, displacing millions of people to the neighboring countries of Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and abroad.

As Lebanon strains under its fifth year of severe economic crisis, Syrian refugees face more intolerance in the country. The economic hardship, compounded by fear of movement, has forced refugees into an impossible choice between their safety and their health. 

Since April, Lebanon has intensified raids and security measures to address the issue of unregistered individuals. As a result, Syrian patients seeking healthcare face growing impediments due to fears and restrictions on their freedom of movement. For many refugees in the governorate, the decision to seek medical help is now fraught with fear.

Recent weeks in Lebanon have seen a surge in anti-refugee sentiment and stringent measures, including municipal crackdowns on undocumented refugees and increased deportations. Discriminatory rhetoric and misinformation campaigns, fuelled by media reports linking Syrian refugees to crimes and epidemics, have fostered an environment of fear and hatred between the host and refugee populations.

“All I ask is for safety”

—a plea that echoes the deep yearning for stability that defines the refugee experience for many in Lebanon today. 

A Syrian woman shows her bloodshot eyes to the camera. Economic hardship and fear of being stopped at checkpoints prevent many refugees from accessing healthcare. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

21-year-old Maya [name changed], a Syrian refugee in northeast Lebanon, releases a dove she tends to in her family's tent in Arsal. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSFA Syrian mother holds her toddler in northeast Lebanon. "Louai (name changed) has had diarrhea for an entire month, and the trip to the clinic costs much more than I can afford," says his mother. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

Amer, a 36-year-old Syrian refugee in Lebanon holds his empty hypertension medication. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

Um Khaleel holds a photo of her granddaughter Salam. "I can't visit my daughter, and she can't visit us either because she doesn't have a permit. “ © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

 

Children sit in the tent that used to serve as their school. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

A Syrian child sits in front of a tea kettle on an open fire outside the tent he calls home. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

 

A young Syrian refugee clings to a teddy bear in Qaa, northeast Lebanon, finding comfort in a small token amidst the uncertainty of displacement. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

MSF teams are accompanied by children as they roam an informal tent settlement in Qaa, northeast Lebanon. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

Despite her battles with diabetes and hypertension, Syrian refugee Dina [name changed], finds solace and strength in tending to her beloved flowers. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

"At the sound of any noise in the night, young men run to hide in the orchards for fear of arrest and deportation," says a Syrian refugee in northeast Lebanon. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

A hypertension patient, 55-year-old Abu Omar recalls with pain the night raid by security forces five months ago, targeting unregistered men for deportation. © Carmen Yahchouchi for MSF

MSF has been present in the Baalbek-Hermel governorate, in the northeast of the country, since 2010. For over a decade, MSF has been providing high-quality and free-of-charge medical services including pediatrics, sexual and reproductive healthcare, treatment for non-communicable diseases, vaccinations against preventable diseases, and mental health support for refugees and the local community alike. Currently, MSF teams run a clinic in Arsal and another in Hermel, as well as supporting access to secondary healthcare through partner hospitals. Yet, even amidst this beacon of assistance, missed medical appointments soar as fear tightens its grip on the refugee community.