The Fund launches an emergency appeal for Lebanon

In response to the rapidly worsening crisis in Lebanon, the Global Human Rights Fund is launching an initiative emergency call providing support to human rights defenders on the front lines in Lebanon and the surrounding region.

100% of donations to this campaign will go directly to the Fund’s beneficiaries in and around Lebanon, who play a crucial role in protecting the rights of refugees and migrants. Learn more and donate today.

Lebanon hosts the most refugees per capita in the world. The Lebanese The government estimates that 1.5 million Syrians and at least 250,000 Palestinians are living in the country as refugees. Many live in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerability.

The escalating conflict in Lebanon has further destabilized the already precarious situation. Well over a million people have done that representativeorderly have been displaced by airstrikes and violence. Initial reports indicate that non-Lebanese refugees and migrants whose homes have been destroyed are being excluded from life-saving aid and resources, including shelter and basic services. Thousands of refugees have been forced to return to Syria, often without essential documentation.

The crises in Lebanon and Gaza are also making the situation in Jordan increasingly complex. Jordan has historically hosted several waves of refugees, including those from Iraq and Syria. Nowgrassroots 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 advice and other forms of assistance to refugees and migrants in Lebanon and neighboring countries. Their in-depth knowledge of the context and their extensive networks of staff, volunteers and allies ensure that they are best placed to defend the human rights of vulnerable people caught up in the conflict.

Groups supported by the Fund include:

Access Center for Human Rights

ACHR is led and run by Syrian refugees with a professional background in law, human rights and journalism. ACHR monitors violations of civil and political rights of Syrian refugees throughout Lebanon, including in prisons and detention centers.

Emergency assistance through our appeal would help ACHR increase the capacity of its field team to ensure that refugees displaced from southern Lebanon are not left without shelter or assistance. ACHR is also committed to establishing a psychological support initiative for other human rights defenders working on the frontlines of this crisis, especially activists assisting civilians in southern Lebanon. All of their vital work relies on donations from the Fund’s community and the public.

Egna Legna

Egna Legna provides safe spaces, legal support and mental health care for domestic workers in Lebanon. They train mentors who support migrant domestic workers in tackling sexual harassment, which often worsens in times of crisis.

With sufficient emergency support, Egna Legna could expand critical operations and relief efforts in affected areas, especially in Beirut and Saida. This would allow them to document cases of rights violations, collect testimonies, track cases of discrimination in access to shelter and assistance, and collect data on the specific challenges faced by migrant communities during this crisis. Furthermore, they could facilitate urgent consultations in cases requiring immediate intervention, such as the confiscation of passports prior to displacement.

Arab Renaissance for democracy and development

As the situation in Jordan evolves, ARDD has received numerous requests from Lebanese individuals, already in or hoping to enter Jordan, 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, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

ARDD is preparing to protect those at risk from 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 have faced increasing vulnerability and marginalization as the conflict developed. If we can get enough support from our community, these groups can ensure that people on the move get the dignity and support they deserve.