Amel Association International’s Response to One of the Largest Humanitarian Crises in Lebanon

As the Syrian conflict entered its fifth year, Lebanon found itself at the center of one of the world’s largest refugee crises. With nearly one in four people in the country displaced, mounting pressure on public services and growing economic hardship, Amel Association International remained on the frontlines, delivering humanitarian assistance while advocating for a more coordinated and locally led response.

This special Activity Report documents Amel’s emergency interventions during 2014–2015, highlighting the organization’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations affected by the Syrian crisis while strengthening the resilience of Lebanese host communities.

Responding to an Unprecedented Humanitarian Emergency

The report describes Lebanon’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian context, where:

• Nearly 1.2 million Syrian refugees were registered or awaiting registration.
• One in four people in Lebanon was displaced.
• Poverty increased by 61% since the beginning of the crisis.
• Municipal spending on waste management rose by 40%.
• Lebanon’s labour force expanded by 50% due to the refugee influx.
• Approximately 3.3 million people required humanitarian assistance.

Amel warned that declining international funding, overcrowded refugee settlements and limited access to education and healthcare threatened the country’s social cohesion and the future of an entire generation.

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Amel had already provided more than 800,000 humanitarian services through its nationwide network of 24 community centres and 6 Mobile Medical Units, covering health, education, child protection, livelihoods, social cohesion and emergency assistance.

Remaining Operational During the Ersal Crisis

One of the defining moments of the reporting period was the violent escalation in the border town of Ersal during August 2014.

While many humanitarian actors suspended operations following attacks by armed extremist groups, Amel maintained its presence and continued providing essential services to affected populations.

Emergency healthcare, child protection, education and livelihood activities resumed rapidly, helping communities recover from displacement, destruction and insecurity.

The report presents this response as an example of locally rooted humanitarian action capable of remaining operational during periods of acute crisis.

Education: Preventing a Lost Generation

Education remained one of Amel’s highest priorities.

The report highlights the alarming reality that only a fraction of school-aged Syrian refugee children were enrolled in formal education in Lebanon, while funding shortages forced many educational programmes to close.

Before funding cuts, Amel had supported more than 7,000 children through:

• Non-formal education
• Accelerated learning
• Remedial education
• School readiness activities
• Back-to-school campaigns

The organization also helped facilitate the enrolment of more than 10,000 children into formal education.

Education programmes operated across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon, with more than 2,436 children benefiting directly from non-formal education activities and over 250 teachers and facilitators engaged in programme delivery.

Amel stressed that investing in education was essential to preventing children from becoming victims of exploitation, marginalization and violence.

Healthcare Without Discrimination

Since its establishment in 1979, healthcare has remained central to Amel’s mission.

During the reporting period (July 2014–March 2015), the organization delivered:

• Approximately 72,000 consultations through its Primary Healthcare Centres.
• Healthcare services to approximately 24,000 beneficiaries through Mobile Medical Units operating in Ersal, El Ain, Mashghara, Khiam and Tyre.
• Antenatal care for more than 38% of beneficiaries.
• Screening and treatment for non-communicable diseases following the introduction of new specialised services.

Amel expanded mobile healthcare to overcome financial, geographical and legal barriers preventing displaced populations from accessing essential medical services.

Healthcare teams also addressed communicable disease prevention, maternal health, paediatric care, chronic disease management and health awareness across refugee settlements and vulnerable Lebanese communities.

Protecting Children from the Consequences of War

Recognising that more than half of the refugee population consisted of children and adolescents, Amel implemented comprehensive child protection programmes combining psychosocial support with recreational and educational activities.

Between July 2014 and March 2015:

• 936 children participated in recreational and awareness activities.
• Approximately 2,000 children received counselling support.
• Around 480 caregivers benefited from counselling sessions.

Activities included:

• Child-friendly spaces
• Art therapy
• Drama and storytelling
• Learning-through-play
• Awareness sessions
• Psychosocial counselling
• Parenting support

The report highlights growing concerns over child labour, early marriage and psychological distress among displaced children resulting from prolonged displacement and economic hardship.

Livelihoods and Social Cohesion

As unemployment and poverty intensified across Lebanon, Amel expanded vocational training programmes benefiting both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities.

Activities focused on:

• Office management
• Graphic design
• Nursing
• Computer maintenance
• Mobile phone repair
• Food production
• Entrepreneurship
• Life-skills development

During the reporting period:

• Approximately 3,650 young people participated in livelihood activities.
• Around 200 youth completed internships.
• More than 1,000 beneficiaries participated in psychosocial support activities.
• 28 community events promoted dialogue and social cohesion.

Amel emphasized that supporting both refugee and host communities was essential to reducing tensions and strengthening peaceful coexistence.

Emergency Winter Assistance

To help families survive Lebanon’s harsh winter conditions, Amel implemented non-food item distribution campaigns targeting the most vulnerable populations.

Between July 2014 and March 2015:

• 2,000 vulnerable individuals in Chiyah and Hay El Sellom received emergency winter assistance.
• Beneficiaries received vouchers enabling them to purchase essential winter items according to their own priorities.

Distribution schedules were carefully organised over several days to ensure safe and dignified assistance.

Advocating for Local Humanitarian Leadership

Beyond direct humanitarian assistance, the report strongly advocates for greater recognition of national civil society organisations.

Amel argues that local organisations possess the knowledge, trust and long-term commitment required for effective humanitarian response and should be recognised as equal partners in crisis coordination.

The report also calls on the international community to:

• Honour humanitarian funding commitments.
• Increase refugee resettlement opportunities.
• Support Lebanon in managing the refugee crisis.
• Reduce excessive coordination and administrative costs so that more resources reach affected communities.
• Promote genuine partnerships between international agencies and local organisations.

Standing with Lebanon and Syria

The 2014–2015 Syrian Crisis Response Report captures one of the most challenging periods in Lebanon’s recent history and demonstrates how Amel combined emergency relief with long-term resilience-building.

Through healthcare, education, child protection, livelihoods and advocacy, the organization sought not only to meet immediate humanitarian needs but also to preserve dignity, social cohesion and hope for displaced families and host communities alike.

As reflected in the report’s central message—“Help Lebanon. Help Syria.”—Amel’s response was grounded in the belief that humanitarian action must support both refugees and the communities that welcome them, while advocating for lasting political solutions to end the crisis.