Organised as part of the Chronicles of Displacement project by USJ’s ArMA Master Mobility Rights Unit, headed by Dr Elias Dahrouge, the policy briefs addressed a different facet of the 2023–2025 displacement emergency, which has left more than 1.3 million people uprooted from their homes across the South, Beirut suburbs, and the Beqaa.
These briefs were the result of a months-long process of training and mentorship. Between December and February, students engaged in workshops on forced displacement, public policy, and policy brief writing, before applying their knowledge to develop practical recommendations for Lebanon’s fractured response systems. The aim: to generate fresh, bottom-up solutions from those often left out of high-level policy discussions.
From gender inequality in labor markets and the exclusion of displaced persons with disabilities, to chronic disease management, non-traditional education, disaster planning, and informal shelter challenges—each brief offered data-driven insight and actionable policy ideas. One paper focused on the legal limbo facing the children of migrant domestic workers; another tackled solid waste management in displacement centers as a looming public health threat.
A lively debate followed the presentations, where students and experts alike reflected on policy gaps, institutional weaknesses, and potential paths forward. As Lebanon continues to navigate a shaky ceasefire, economic collapse, and over 100,000 people still displaced, the urgency of these conversations was palpable.
The Chronicles of Displacement project aims to do just that—by both documenting the humanitarian impact of the war and providing a platform for youth-led policy engagement.
The students involved in the policy briefs are:
- Rawane Yamout – Gender, Employment, and Internal Displacement: The Case of Lebanese Women
- Bushra Farhat – Healthcare in Crisis: Ensuring Access to Healthcare for IDPs with Chronic Diseases
- Mansour I. Kfoury – Education on the Move: Addressing Learning Gaps Through Non-Traditional Programs in War-Affected Displacement Centers
- Elie Badieh Rizk – The Reality and Challenges of Disaster Management in Lebanon: The Displacement Disaster Model
- Joelle Bou Ghantous – Invisible Refuge: Supporting IDPs in Self-Settled Accommodations During the 2024 Hezbollah–Israel War
- Abeer Mohsen – Who Has Guardianship? Children of Migrant Workers Facing War Without Protection
- Ghaitha Esber – The Impact of Displacement in Lebanon on Persons with Disabilities
Read the full policy briefs and explore the project Chronicles of Displacement
Full credits of the main photo on the top: A displaced man sleeps on the street, leaving his car for his two young kids to sleep in. Beirut’s Ramlet al-Baida beach. October 28, 2024. By Matthieu Karam