This document has been developed by the inter-agency coordination unit and more particularly by the social stability, livelihoods and protection sectors to provide facts and information to frontline actors and field partners on possible instances of inter-community tensions related to refugees’ access to livelihoods. Since the beginning of 2017, there have been several incidents of protests by host community members against the labour competition caused by refugees, and more particularly by refugees owning shops. While there have been similar incidents in previous years, the issue seems to have reached a new scale this year with over 34 municipalities affected since the beginning of the year, throughout Lebanon. The scale and focus of these protests as well as the reactions and measures subsequently taken (or not) by affected municipalities have varied, as have the accuracy of information circulating within the host community on refugees’ access to livelihoods. This Q&A aims to provide basic facts on the applicable legal framework (part I), and procedures for partners to follow/use if facing such events (part II).
