Beirut - 17 March 2020 - In August 2020, I visited Beirut, a city devastated by the blast at the beginning of the month. Lebanon was in a state of complete and utter distress as the explosions came amidst a worsening economic crisis which continues to immensely impact everyone in Lebanon.

After a year and a half, I returned to Lebanon to attend the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2022 - Recovery and Resilience - to discuss regional priorities for an inclusive and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 and related crises.

Lebanon is a country of destination for approximately 210,000 migrant workers, who have been severely affected by the country’s overlapping crises. Thousands have lost their livelihoods and have been facing acute poverty. Many have been left stranded; wishing to return home but lacking the means to do so. Migrants face specific barriers that make it harder for them to access humanitarian aid and are largely excluded from national safety net programmes.

In Lebanon, the vulnerability of migrant workers is exacerbated by the Kafala system and the fact that the majority of migrant workers are not protected by national labour legislation which exposes them to violence, exploitation and abuse, including human trafficking.

More and more migrants are reaching out to IOM for help. Since the 4th August Port Explosions, IOM has provided assistance to 1,400 migrants. IOM’s assistance includes case management services and counselling, food, emergency cash assistance, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, temporary accommodation, legal assistance, and voluntary return and reintegration assistance.

Most recently, IOM facilitated the safe return of 59 Kenyan migrant domestic workers from Lebanon, in coordination with all relevant authorities and partners. The assistance provided included reintegration assistance for the most vulnerable into their origin communities, and support to the longer-term rehabilitation and recovery of those who have been subjected to abuse, violence, exploitation, including human trafficking.

IOM has been operating in Lebanon since 2006 and is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration in the country. IOM works closely with the government and civil society to support migrants in Lebanon, particularly those in situations of vulnerability, providing direct assistance and capacity-development for local protection actors.

IOM supports Lebanese migrants who find themselves in distress in other countries, such as those who fled Ukraine and sought refuge in neighbouring countries. IOM Lebanon also supports refugees by facilitating their resettlement and complementary protection pathways, and by

providing livelihood assistance to Syrians and hosting Lebanese communities. To promote safe and humane migration, IOM also provides migration policy advice to the government.

By: Carmela Godeau, IOM's MENA Regional Director