Protection
Enabling dignity in urban displacement
More needs to be done to assist Syrian refugees in accessing civil documentation and thereby public services in host countries. In addition to information and counseling, the most vulnerable require case management and financial support.
The eligibility criteria and application periods for temporary protection IDs in Turkey and birth registration in Lebanon have changed over time. Without these documents, refugees have difficulty accessing vital services, such as public education and (advanced) health care. Other sought-after documentation includes: marriage certificates and legal/residency status.
In areas of intense violence within Syria, children must be kept off of the streets and better protected in underground recreational centers. Many displaced Syrians in the region require psychosocial support to process all that they have seen in this war. Single mothers and victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) require a protection lens to shelter and education/health programing that promotes safety and opportunities for self-reliance.
RPI and its local implementing partners work to meet these needs by:
- Providing Syrian refugees in Turkey with guidance on documentation procedures and referrals to service providers to legitimize and support their stay
- Providing individual case management to the most vulnerable refugees: interpretation/translation, accompaniment to service providers, and support with completing application forms
- Counseling and financially aiding Syrian refugees in Lebanon to complete birth registration
- Providing pediatric psychosocial support and referrals to psychologists in besieged areas of Syria
- Protecting female-headed refugee households and victims of sexual and gender-based violence by linking shelter and self-reliance support
- Considering providing, once war has ended, information and counseling on housing, land, and property restitution and reparation
Counseling and Case Management
6,715 Syrians in Turkey received consultations on how to access vital documentation and medical, legal, and educational services. 220 Syrian refugees in Lebanon were supported with birth registration.
Supporting Mental Health
In Syria, our partner provided 190 children and trainers with psychosocial programming.
Encouraging Collaboration
Through networking with the American Bar Association, MSF, and IMC, our partner hosted joint information sessions on critical legal and medical issues.
Syrian refugees benefiting from birth registration support by RPI’s partner URDA in Lebanon
RPI’s partner Basmeh and Zeitooneh interviewing a Syrian refugee in Turkey
RPI’s partner Basmeh and Zeitooneh conducting legal information sessions for Syrian refugees
