Syrian - Lebanese refugee hosting model. (c2017)

Abstract

The Presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has been affecting host communities in different ways. It is true that refugees are suffering from economic, social, health, and legal difficulties; however, one cannot overlook economic and security threats they might pose on Lebanese community. Despite tough circumstances, the Lebanese government did not take any practical steps to organize the presence of Syrian refugees. It only scrutinized hosting policies to discourage mass influx. At a time when repatriation is not an option, this thesis aims to explore hosting models that can accommodate refugees’ needs while exploring the demographic fears of host community. The proposed hosting model is developed based on field research and a comparative case analysis that draws best practices and lessons derived from hosting strategies of Palestinians in Lebanon, and more recently, Syrians in Jordan.