Syrian refugees in Aarsal, Lebanon are being forced to demolish cement foundations and concrete walls and roofs supporting their make-shift shelters, in what is seen as pressure to return to Syria. Without immediate shelter assistance in line with Lebanese housing codes, these refugees will become homeless. Affected children are falling ill from the polluted water tanks and relentless heat. Across Lebanon, refugees require improved access to affordable urban housing and tenure security.

In areas of Syria that have been exposed to violent conflict, displaced civilians are in need of urgent material assistance and shelter upgrades. Windows, doors, electrical and sanitation systems are often damaged and in need of repair. Heavy rains have flooded informal tented settlements, forcing children to sleep without ground cover. The cost of traditional heating fuel has increased nearly five-fold in some areas, leading internally displaced persons (IDPs) to resort to deforestation in the absence of alternative heating fuel.

Having depleted their savings, many Syrian refugees struggle to afford the soaring cost of rent in southern Turkey. While Turkish neighbors have been historically generous to the refugees, landlords are increasingly reluctant to rent to unemployed Syrians. Refugees may be asked to pay up to 6 months of rent in advance. Many lack written leases and protection from forced eviction.

RPI and its local implementing partners are working to meet these needs by:

• Subsidizing rent and securing free housing rentals for IDPs in exchange for shelter repairs
• Upgrading housing to render it fit for habitation: rehabilitating plumbing, windows, doors, and generator connections
• Distributing mattresses, blankets, heaters, fuel, and insulation to civilians evacuated from besieged areas
• Distributing waterproof floor matting to flooded tented settlements
• Distributing dried olive pulp as an environmentally friendly fuel for heating and cooking
• Monitoring forced evictions and living conditions
• Mediating disputes between landlords and refugee tenants