Support to Social Institutions
70,000 Lebanese households received Winter Assistance (175,000 blankets and 2.9m USD in cash transfers through the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP)).
57 SDCs received financial, technical, and additional staffing support, enabling amongst others 27,000 individuals to receive psychosocial support services (including 6,500 Lebanese).
Under MoSA's National Plan for Women and Children, 57 SDCs benefited from the financial and technical support of partners (notably through the secondment of qualified staff), enabling 27,000 individuals to receive psychosocial support services, 151,000 children and caregivers to learn more on child protection issues, as well as 5,000 children to be evaluated for specialized services.
The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) along with its Social Development Centres (SDCs) provide both the overall leadership role of the crisis response and some of the most pressing service delivery as first responders in the field.
An estimated 7.4 million USD in financial support was therefore mobilized to strengthen Lebanon’s social system, in addition to 1.7m USD targeting specifically the implementation of the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP).
Since the beginning of the year, 70,000 poor Lebanese households were supported through the provision of winter cash and core relief items (the highest number ever reached) and 28,000 NPTP beneficiaries received monthly food assistance. Overall, no less than 194 additional staff were seconded to social institutions both at the central and local levels to ensure adequate staffing capacity to respond to the crisis.
Support to the Social Development Center of Al Marj
The SDC of Al Marj in West Bekaa was founded in 2001 to provide specialized services to vulnerable beneficiaries, including children, women, the elderly and persons with disability. “When we first opened the Centre, we were operating one clinic and one office for the NPTP which benefits the most vulnerable Lebanese families,” says Mr. Hazaa Darwish, the SDC’s director. “Following the onset of the Syrian crisis, the Centre expanded its services to include Syrian beneficiaries.” Today, with the support of UNHCR and partners, Al Marj SDC has 42 employees including doctors, nurses and a dentist. It is fully equipped and provides services ranging from healthcare consultations and counselling to awareness-raising sessions on health related issues.
The centre welcomes one of the highest numbers of Lebanese and Syrian beneficiaries in the region and covers around 10 nearby villages. “On average, we receive approximately 4,000 Lebanese beneficiaries a month and about 1,300 Syrians,” the SDC receptionist explains.