1) Palestinian Issue:

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1 Prepared by: Ms. Khawla Khalaf the Director of Al Buss Center Date: 3/2/2015 To: RE: Members of Fluchtlingskinder in Lebanon Association for Refugee Children in Lebanon Germany Annual report about Al Buss center 1) Palestinian Issue: - May 15 th, 1948, 750,000 were displaced from their towns and villages as a result of the Zionist occupation - Palestinian fled to the surrounding countries, such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, West and Gaza. 1.1) The Palestinian current distribution is: Lebanon: Syria: Jordan: Gaza: West Bank: (ref. UNRWA) - Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon are living in 12 official camps and 42 gatherings: 1

2 Beirut Shattila Burj Al Barajneh Mar Elias Dbayeh North 1. Beddawi 2. Nahr Bared South 1. Ein Hellweh 2. Mieh Mieh 3. Burj Al Shamali 4. Al Buss 5. Rashedieh Beqaa 1. Wavel 3 camps were destroyed during the Civil War in Lebanon 2

3 2.1) Palestinian refugees camps in Lebanon and the main difficulties Poverty Overcrowding camps High drop-out rate in schools Small shelters and poor housing conditions Lack of employment opportunities Lack of infrastructure Security procedures around the camps Lebanon has the highest percentage of Palestinian refugees living in abject poverty 3.1) Legal status of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (PRL) Palestinian Refugees are classified in 3 categories : I. Registered Refugees II. III. Non-Registered Refugees - NR Non-IDs Refugees No civil rights after 67 years of displacement Not allowed to work in more than 20 professions Not allowed to possess or inherit property (Law 2001) No access to the Lebanese public services 3

4 4.1) Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS) PRS have been targeted by both fighting sides in the Syrian conflict. Syrian crisis have caused around 50,000 PRS to move to Lebanon and flee the Palestinian camps. No PRS is allowed to cross into Lebanon since May Limited duration of stay in Lebanon for one year (residency papers to be renewed every 3 months) Suffering from harsh living conditions on all levels: social, economical and psychological. Palestinians have been subjected to many massacres and various forms of marginalization 2) Al-Buss Center: The center runs the following programs: 1.2) Family Guidance Center (FGC): The Family Guidance Center in Al-Buss camp was established in November 2007 to provides comprehensive mental health rehabilitation services to children and youth below 18 years and the caregivers who are living in the Palestinian camps and gatherings in Tyre area. The mental health services includes consulting, treatment and follow up in Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psycho-motor Therapy, Speech and Language therapy, Occupational therapy, Music Therapy, evaluation tests and social intervention. 4

5 The services are provided by multi-disciplinary team consists of a Psychiatrist, 2 psychologists, 2 Speech Therapists, 2 Psychomotor Therapists, 1 occupational Therapist, 4 community mental health workers and a community workers coordinator. FGC Al Buss has adopted the community based approach in working with children and their families, as well as the organizations, schools, kindergartens and the community so that they overcome their psychological problems within their environment. This approach contributes to enhancing the wellbeing of the children and that of their parents, and facilitating the communication between the parents, their children and the community. The provision of free of charge services for children, youth and their families remained a main policy at The National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training (NISCVT) and its Family Guidance Centers (FGCs). This intervention has been supported by Handicap international (HI) since January 2010 and by AFD fund since January It is a serious and growing gaps in the Mental Health services in Lebanon and especially inside the Palestinian community facing all kinds of threats. FGC Al Buss is a credible reference for consultations, assessments and evaluations in Tyre area ) Main Activities in Mental health: Individual therapy, Group therapy & Co-parents therapy Home-based therapy Weekly meeting Assessment & Referral 5

6 Awareness sessions and Parental Training. Parents Support Groups Field visits Capacity Building and Development Sponsorship for special needs children 2.1.2) Awareness Raising: A series of lectures and training workshops have been organized for parents, caregivers, social workers, teachers and young volunteers in order to increase their information and knowledge about the topics they receive and to learn techniques and skills in how to deal with the difficulties of their children. Various organizations were also invited to participate in meetings to discuss mental health issues such as psychiatric disorders, psychological development, communication skills, stress management, relaxation techniques and language and speech difficulties. 2.2) Family Happiness project: The family happiness project targets 36 families, (fatherless children and the hardship cases) who are living in Al Buss Camp and gatherings in Tyre area. Since Beit Atfal Assumoud has taken a decision to support the Palestinians fatherless families coming from Syria, Al Buss center has sponsored 3 of these families. Social workers set up an annual plan of activities for children and mothers consist of recreational, educational, environmental and social activities while 12 of the children from Al Buss center, aged from 14 to 17 years old, have training sessions in music. The training is implementing in Burj Al Shamali center where the musical band gathers 60 musicians whcih they are participating in various occasions. 6

7 3.2) Empowerment of Marginalized Communities in the south of Lebanon The period of the project is 4 years, from 2012 till social workers from BAS have trained in 5 topics which are mental health, reproductive health, disability, environment, education, and women empowerment. Since the end of the year 2013, 5 social workers started to deliver awareness sessions in mental and reproductive health among the community in order to enhance their knowledge and information. These will continue till the end of the year ) Mental Health and Psychosocial support Strengthening Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings for Children, Women and Families affected by the Syria Refugee Crisis" it`s a project supported by UNICEF and MAP :Medical Aid of Palestinians". target people who survived violence, or otherwise distress. In this project Beit Atfal Assumoud is working in 3 camps and 9 gatherings in the South and Naher Al Bared in the North. The activities are: expression activities, recreational, learning through playing activities including drawing, painting, storytelling, dancing, singing, construction, imaginative and role play, in addition to the community activities and events. The project provides psychological support and treatment for children with severe difficulties. the working team in this project detect the children with difficulties and mental problem and refer them to therapists at FGC. after each day of activities, the participants children and caregivers receive healthy meal. 5.2) Relief operation during crisis and situations of war and disasters : Al Buss center is distributed ration aids, foods, clothes, baby kids, dignity kits for marginalized girls, hygiene kits and psychological support to children and families 7

8 targeted by violence, war and disasters, they also have free access to the services of Beit Atfal Assumoud. Challenges: Displaced SR & PRS are an additional target group with major needs for help and support Tests, scans and other medical exams are a priority for an accurate diagnosis : UNRWA only covers 50% of the expenses Special schools and Institutions for multiple special needs children: additional burden on parents : high tuition fess lack of appropriate institutions limited places. Weaknesses No specific and unified reference for Palestinian to lobby for their rights to improve health and educational services. Lebanese government is not responsible of any services addressed to Palestinians, their reference is UNRWA and the PLO Please accept our sincere gratitude for your solidarity and support. Sincerely, Khawla Khalaf NISCVT, ElBuss center 8