As of 31 March 2016, more than 1.04 million Syrian refugees were registered with UNHCR and are living in over 1,750 locations across Lebanon. Registration remained suspended throughout the first quarter of 2016, following instructions from the Government of Lebanon (GOL) issued in May 2015. Syrians approaching UNHCR for protection and assistance are counseled about the suspension of registration, and have their vulnerabilities assessed so that any of their critical needs can be addressed.
Protection
On 8 January, the Turkish Government introduced visa requirements for all Syrian nationals entering Turkey. Since then, onward movements from Lebanon have virtually halted. UNHCR and partners have intensified monitoring, and have set up an ad hoc taskforce to identify possible increases in people smuggling and human trafficking.
A key concern over the first quarter was the continued deterioration of the economic situation of refugees. By the end of March, the level of debt accumulated by refugee households averaged USD950, versus an average of USD842 in 2015. Some 55% of refugee families had not been able to renew their residency permits due to the fee (USD200 per person aged 14 years and above) and the documentation required (including a notarized pledge not to work).
Between January and March 2016, UNHCR and partner agencies made 63 requests to the Lebanese authorities to release Syrian refugees with specific vulnerabilities, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and LGBTI individuals who had been detained for irregular entry or stay. These interventions led to the release of 23 vulnerable individuals by the end of the reporting period. UNHCR is following up on the remaining cases.
In Lebanon, if the birth of a child is not registered with the Nofous office (local registry office) before the child reaches one, a lengthy and often costly court procedure will be required to complete the birth registration process. As a result, children born to refugee parents who are unaware of this birth registration procedure may risk becoming stateless. In light of this, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and UNHCR are jointly working to increase birth registration by refugee parents with the Nofous office at the Personal Status Department by combining this process with the update of newborns in UNHCR files. At Reception Centers, UNHCR, MOSA and partners provide individualized counselling and support. During the reporting period, MoSA staff had counselled over 7,000 refugee families on how to register the birth of their children with the Lebanese authorities.