According to Lebanese national law, without the required entry or stay documentation to
be in Lebanon, refugees from Syria are considered to be ‘illegally’ present, giving them
limited legal status in Lebanon. Having such limited legal status in Lebanon often has a
negative impact on the lives of refugees.
Between June and October 2013, NRC conducted a qualitative assessment to identify
and better understand the consequences of having limited legal status for Syrian
refugees in Lebanon. The assessment focused on two geographical areas where there
are high numbers of refugees with limited legal status: (1) Wadi Khaled, in the Akkar
region of northern Lebanon; and (2) Aarsal, in the northern Bekaa, eastern Lebanon.
The research methodology used by NRC included in-depth semi-structured interviews
and focus group discussions comprised of refugees with limited legal status living in
these areas, as well as interviews with service providers and local authorities. Peer
review workshops with field-based humanitarian protection actors were conducted in
both locations and have informed the recommendations of this report.