Vulnerability Assessment of Refugees of other Nationalities in Lebanon 2017

The influx of well over a million refugees from Syria since 2012 has partly overshadowed the plight of other refugee communities, many of whom have been living in Lebanon since before the Syrian crisis. This report aims to shed light on their situation, from their access to healthcare and education, to their economic vulnerability and food insecurity.

At the end of 2016, there were 21,761 registered refugees and asylum seekers from countries other than Syria in Lebanon.* Iraqis make up the largest share of this caseload (86%), arriving mostly in 2014 and 2015. The remaining refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from Sudan (9%), but also—in order by share--from Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea and elsewhere; this report will refer to the latter group as ‘refugees of Other Nationalities‘. New asylum seekers continue to approach UNHCR seeking international protection; indeed, 1,084 refugees and asylum seekers from countries other than Syria registered with UNHCR in Lebanon during the first half of 2017, 657 of whom were Iraqi.

The VARON 2017 is intended to be a key tool for shaping planning decisions and programme design in response to the specific needs and priorities of this refugee group.