Update on October 28, 2024: The emergency appeal for Lebanon has now ended. If you would like to support human rights defenders around the world, you can donate here.
In response to the rapidly deteriorating crisis in Lebanon, the Fund for Global Human Rights is launching an emergency appeal to provide support for frontline human rights defenders in Lebanon and surrounding region.
100% of donations to this campaign will go directly to Fund grantees in and around Lebanon who play a critical role in protecting the rights of refugees and migrants.
Lebanon is home to the most refugees per capita in the world. The Lebanese government estimates that 1.5 million Syrians and at least 250,000 Palestinians reside as refugees in the country. Many live in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerability.
The escalating conflict in Lebanon has further destabilized an already precarious situation. Over a million people have reportedly been displaced by airstrikes and violence. Early reports suggest that non-Lebanese refugees and migrants whose homes have been destroyed are being turned away from life-saving aid and resources, including shelter and basic services. Thousands of refugees have been forced to cross back into Syria, often without vital documentation.
The crises in Lebanon and Gaza are also making the situation in Jordan increasingly complex. Jordan has historically been a host nation for multiple waves of refugees, including those from Iraq and Syria. Now, grassroots groups are preparing to respond to the potential influx of new refugees.
Local community-led groups, supported by the Fund, are mobilizing to provide shelter, legal counsel, and other forms of assistance to refugees and migrants in Lebanon and neighboring countries. Their deep understanding of the context and extensive networks of staff, volunteers, and allies mean they are best placed to defend the human rights of vulnerable people caught in the conflict.
Groups supported by the Fund include:
Access Centre for Human Rights
ACHR is led and run by Syrian refugees with professional backgrounds in law, human rights, and journalism. ACHR monitors abuses of civil and political rights of Syrian refugees across the whole of Lebanon, including in prisons and detention centers.
Emergency support via our appeal would help ACHR to enhance its field team’s capacity to ensure that refugees displaced from southern Lebanon are not left without shelter or aid. ACHR also seeks to establish a psychological support initiative for other human rights defenders working on the front lines of this crisis, particularly activists assisting civilians in southern Lebanon. All of their critical work relies on donations from the Fund’s community and the public.
Egna Legna
Egna Legna provides safe spaces, legal support, and mental health counselling for domestic workers in Lebanon. They train mentors who support migrant domestic workers in addressing sexual harassment, which often worsens in times of crisis.
With enough emergency support, Egna Legna would be able to expand critical operations and outreach in affected areas, particularly in Beirut and Saida. This would enable them to document cases of rights violations, collect testimonies, track instances of discrimination in access to shelter and aid, and gather data on the specific challenges facing migrant communities during this crisis. Additionally, they could facilitate urgent consultations for cases requiring immediate intervention, such as passport confiscation prior to displacement.
Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development
As the situation in Jordan evolves, ARDD has received numerous requests from Lebanese individuals, either already in Jordan or hoping to enter, inquiring about available services and legal protections, including residency status, entry into Jordan, and registration with UNHCR. But the Jordanian government has not yet recognized Lebanese individuals as refugees, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation.
ARDD is preparing to shield those at risk from falling into deeper legal and humanitarian vulnerability by advocating for protection and proper documentation.
Each of these organizations is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of refugees and migrants, who faced increased vulnerability and marginalization as the conflict develops. If we can raise enough support from our community, these groups can help ensure that people on the move receive the dignity and support they deserve.
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