ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2024/Policy brief.11
Country: Lebanese Republic
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Governance & enabling environment, Population dynamics & migration, Resilient development & conflict prevention
Initiatives: Development challenges, Governance and institution building, Strengthening transboundary risk mitigation, Life Cycle
SDGs: Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Keywords: Care economy, Caregivers, Displaced persons, Economic growth, Health care delivery, Health centres, Health personnel, Israel, Mental health services, Physical infrastructure, Post-conflict reconstruction, Humanitarian assistance, Lebanon, Recommendations, Recovery, Rehabilitation, Resilience, Social security, War, Women in armed conflicts
Restoring care, rebuilding communities: path to recovery for Lebanon
December 2024
The violent war launched by Israel on Lebanon has led to disastrous consequences felt by the entire population. It has caused a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, characterized by a significant death toll, countless injuries, and internal displacement of large population groups, including women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and persons with illnesses. The care economy, already strained by the 2019 economic crisis, has taken a severe hit, with the destruction of care structures, such hospitals, health centres, nurseries and ambulances, in addition to school closures and overcrowded shelters. This has led to a growing demand for unpaid care, the brunt of which is falling on women who find themselves subject to more care responsibilities, while often going from caregiver to dependent care recipient themselves.
Going forward, Lebanon should follow a three-phased relief, rehabilitation and development plan. The immediate focus should be on humanitarian relief, prioritizing vulnerable populations, capitalizing on the agency of internally displaced persons who could contribute to caregiving towards recovery, and addressing the needs of women and caregivers to enable them to continue providing care. The second stage should entail rehabilitation, focusing on both care infrastructure and physical infrastructure, and the recovery of care services. The final stage relates to development, where Lebanon should build a strategic vision centred around care, linking care to various public policies to ensure a sustainable and resilient future.
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Governance & enabling environment
, Population dynamics & migration
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The violent war launched by Israel on Lebanon has led to disastrous consequences felt by the entire population. It has caused a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, characterized by a significant death toll, countless injuries, and internal displacement of large population groups, including women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and persons with illnesses. The care economy, already strained by the 2019 economic crisis, has taken a severe hit, with the destruction of care structures, such hospitals, health centres, nurseries and ambulances, in addition to school closures and overcrowded shelters. This has led to a growing demand for unpaid care, the brunt of which is falling on women who find themselves subject to more care responsibilities, while often going from caregiver to dependent care recipient themselves.
Going forward, Lebanon should follow a three-phased relief, rehabilitation and development plan. The immediate focus should be on humanitarian relief, prioritizing vulnerable populations, capitalizing on the agency of internally displaced persons who could contribute to caregiving towards recovery, and addressing the needs of women and caregivers to enable them to continue providing care. The second stage should entail rehabilitation, focusing on both care infrastructure and physical infrastructure, and the recovery of care services. The final stage relates to development, where Lebanon should build a strategic vision centred around care, linking care to various public policies to ensure a sustainable and resilient future.
