Appeal to save refugees from the dangers of forced eviction
Beirut, Lebanon
Wednesday May 18 2022
Since the beginning of 2022 until today, the Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) has documented 6 individual forced evictions, and more than 3 mass forced evictions, and is also following up on dozens of cases threatened with arbitrary eviction from their homes. These cases constitute a clear violation of Lebanese law, which requires that there be legitimate reasons for eviction, provided that it takes place through an official warning within a reasonable period. These reasons include: the tenant’s failure to pay the dues, and/or the owner’s desire to change the use of the place, and/or the necessity to vacate an area for security reasons.
The results of the forced eviction of refugees from their homes lead to significant material and moral losses, including loss of job opportunities, interruption of education, difficulty finding alternative housing, and increase other violations by the host community and unofficial armed groups against refugees, as ACHR monitored cases of severe beatings. As a result of the increase in societal violence during the forced evictions of refugees living in homes and groups living in refugee camps.
Because of the Lebanese General Security’s requirement to have legal residency in order to file an official complaint, none of the refugees who were subjected to violations filed any complaint with the Lebanese authorities, noting that about 84 percent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon do not have legal residency as a result of the imposed conditions. The State Consultative Council had annulled the Lebanese General Security Resolution issued in 2015 through which the residency conditions were amended to narrow them.
Finally, the economic crisis does not absolve Lebanon from respecting its international obligations related to public rights and freedoms. Although the “right to housing” enjoys international recognition and was mentioned in several international conventions and treaties, the Lebanese authorities remain negligent in respecting these obligations by complicating the procedures for transferring The camps and the failure to hold perpetrators of violations related to forced evictions accountable.
From here, the Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) addresses the Lebanese authorities with a request to publicly take the necessary measures and stop the forced eviction decisions, and to seriously search for solutions to the collective forced eviction crisis. Among its responsibilities towards refugee protection, it demands the following:
The Lebanese authorities:
Stop the forced evictions of refugees from their homes and camps.
Ensuring the provision of shelter and an adequate standard of living as one of the cornerstones for achieving sustainable development in the country in cases of evacuating the camps, while giving the camp residents a reasonable period of time to evacuate.
Establishing a national eviction monitoring program in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs to identify families threatened with official eviction.
Providing basic necessities in their new places of relocation, such as schools and hospitals.
On the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Seek with the Lebanese authorities to combat hate speech through awareness campaigns in coordination with the relevant ministries.
Remind the findings of the United Nations and the international community that Syria is not currently a safe country for the return of Syrians.
Immediate and urgent intervention to provide the necessary support and prevent mass displacement of refugees.
Creating effective communication channels to respond to the issues pursued by civil society organizations, especially the Protection Department.
