Lebanon
Workers at CRS' partner agency Arcenciel make custom-made chairs for people with disabilities. Photo by David Snyder for CRS
Lebanon has substantial economic strengths but is marked by dramatic inequalities and deep sectarian rivalries that are the source of recurring political instability. In 1990, the country's fifteen-year civil war ended with an agreement for power-sharing governing arrangements based on religious affiliation. The multi-religious character of Lebanese society and the role of Christians in all aspects of the country's life make Lebanon culturally unique in the Arab world. Commenting on the long but often troubled history of coexistence among the country's Christians, Sunni and Shia Muslims and Druzes, Pope John Paul II said, "Lebanon is more than a country. Lebanon is a message!" During this time of historic change in the Arab world, Catholic Relief Services is working with the Lebanese Church and other partners to promote civic engagement in order to strengthen the county's fragile inter-religious peace and coexistence.
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Stats
| Population: | 4,143,101 (July 2011 est.) |
| Size: | 4,015 sq. mi.; about 3/4 the size of Connecticut |
| People Served: | 7,875 |
History
Throughout Lebanon's long civil war, under very difficult circumstances Catholic Relief Services provided humanitarian assistance and reconstructed war-damaged infrastructure on a non-sectarian basis. CRS' regional office for Europe and the Middle East was relocated to Beirut in 2004. We re-established a Lebanon country program office during the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, assisting more than 250,000 war-displaced people. Following the ceasefire, CRS invested more than $15 million to rebuild livelihoods, public buildings and community infrastructure. Since then, CRS has focused on strengthening our Lebanese partner organizations, empowering youth as active citizens, promoting good governance at the local level, and piloting new ways for Lebanese communities to identify rising sectarian tensions and act early to prevent them from escalating to violence.
Partners
Arcenciel is a 23-year-old Lebanese non-profit organization that cares for people with disabilities. Because disabled people often live on the fringes of Lebanese society—or are hidden from it entirely—Arcenciel helps them become full participants. Currently, Arcenciel operates eight centers that provide health care, legal and social assistance, employment counseling and job-hunting services, and mobility and accessibility assistance. As a service-provider to the Lebanese government, Arcenciel has a wide reach and a well-established reputation for empowering people with disabilities and others in need. Catholic Relief Services and Arcenciel are currently promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities, with funding from USAID.
