Maintaining ICMC Support to Refugees in Lebanon
The ICMC staff team in Beirut maintained crucial support for refugees in Lebanon throughout a temporary office closure caused by the conflict in Lebanon. As the office resumes full operations following the recent ceasefire agreement, we hear from ICMC staff members on the personal and professional impacts of the conflict.
In response to the conflict in Lebanon, ICMC temporarily shut down its Resettlement Support Center (RSC) in Beirut from 24 September to 29 November 2024. Following the 2 December ceasefire agreement, the RSC office reopened, resuming full operations with staff again working from the office. Staff who had relocated to safer areas during the conflict have mostly returned to their homes.
The team continued working remotely during the office closure, allowing ICMC to keep providing essential services while ensuring the safety of both staff and refugees. ICMC staff in Lebanon were thus able to adapt and continue their operations throughout the conflict despite the many challenges they faced, highlighting the dedication of the ICMC team to continue supporting and protecting refugees.
A heavy emotional and psychological toll
The conflict has significantly impacted the emotional and psychological well-being of ICMC staff. Continuous exposure to war-related news, the sounds of bombings, and ongoing concerns for their families’ safety have left team members feeling anxious and struggling to sleep. “I started having high anxiety due to the situation and all the injustice and violence we are seeing,” shared a staff member, “I have a tough time sleeping at night and if I fall asleep, I see nightmares related to war. I feel helpless and hopeless most of the time.”
Another team member described the mental strain of witnessing the suffering of refugees while also ensuring their own personal safety. “Listening to refugee applicants’ concerns while having to also worry for own personal safety, and witnessing the suffering of those affected by war, is a burdensome responsibility that is harmful in the longer term”, said one.
Read more ICMC staff testimonies
Despite this challenging context, the team stayed focused on supporting refugee applicants and adapting quickly to their new situation. The Refugee Information Unit kept running, gathering information, responding to refugee inquiries, and staying connected with applicants and partners. Processing staff continued to work closely with partners to address urgent cases, particularly those of applicants living in targeted areas and unable to move, as well as homeless and injured applicants. Remote and telephone cultural orientation sessions were also set up for cases scheduled to depart, ensuring their resettlement process remained uninterrupted.
More critical than ever
The conflict has exacerbated the already fragile situation in Lebanon. Many refugees face dire conditions, with limited access to shelter, food, clean water, and hygiene supplies. Some landlords are prioritizing displaced Lebanese families and refusing to continue hosting refugee tenants, leaving many homeless and vulnerable. The situation has grown so desperate that, even prior to the recent departure of President Bashar al-Assad, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees elected to return to Syria despite the ongoing civil war there.
The conflict has made the need for continued support for refugees even more pressing. “We cannot imagine how difficult it is for the refugees to be displaced again, and this time in Lebanon,” said one team member. “It is very heart-wrenching to hear refugees say, ‘I am really tired of being displaced again.'”
Resettlement remains the ultimate solution for refugees stuck in a cycle of displacement, as Lebanon itself is no longer a safe haven. “For me, all humans are equal, deserve the same help, and should feel safe and able to seek refuge when needed,” said a processing team leader. “No one deserves to experience any of what is happening.”
